By Femi Ogunshola
Abuja – Mr Inibehe Effiong, a legal practitioner, has called on the Federal Government to take punitive action against hate inspired offences that can further cause disaffection in the country.
Effiong made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja against the backdrop of ethnic agitations and hate induced speeches in some parts of the country.
He condemned the quit notices issued by some ethnic groups to other groups to leave their region, adding that such statements should attract immediate punitive action.
Effiong said that there should be accountability for actions “or what the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai once referred to as the policy of consequence”.
According to him, if people who issued threats to other Nigerians are not subjected to the punitive measures of the law, it will create a sense of legitimisation of criminality.
Effiong said that there should be no selective enforcement of hate-inspired offences.
The youth wing of AREWA Consultative Forum had earlier issued a quit notice asking the Igbos living in the North to vacate their region on or before Oct. 1.
Also, the coalition of Niger Delta Militants had earlier issued a similar quit notice but later withdrew it.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the quit notice by the two bodies attracted wide condemnation and were later withdrawn.
According to Effiong, it is good that the quit notice issued by the Arewa Youths and the counter quit notice by the Niger Delta group have now been withdrawn.
The lawyer, however, cautioned against comments inimical to the peace of the country, adding that the inability of the government to arrest and prosecute perpetrators should not be taken as weakness.
He called on the Federal Government to arrest and prosecute those found making hate induced speeches, saying it would serve as deterrent to others. (NAN)
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