A retired Army General, Brig.-Gen. Kapeh Alwali Kazir has accused the popular media outlet AREWA24 of undermining the unity of Northern Nigeria, describing the channel as a tool for divisive narratives that harm the regions cohesion.
In a sharply-worded statement issued yesterday, Brig. Gen. Kazir warned that Arewa24 is part of a larger conspiracy aimed at weakening the North by promoting division along religious and ethnic lines.
According to him, the channels activities are damaging to the North’s values, and could ultimately contribute to the destruction of the region if not countered immediately.
We are conscious of the grave damage the Arewa24 TV channel is doing to Arewa and our collective purpose. They are part of a grand plot to undermine our values and further divide the North with intent to destroy us, said Kazir.
He also expressed concern that some Northerners were unknowingly or willingly aiding these efforts, calling such actions unfortunate and highlighting the ease with which people can be deceived into contributing to the region’s disunity.
The retired general emphasized that efforts to divide the North must be countered aggressively, particularly the narratives coming from media outlets like Arewa24.
Kazirs statement further highlighted the historical context of the regions struggles, attributing the divisions to manipulation by those who see a unified North as a threat to their political interests. We have allowed ourselves to be divided along religious and ethnic lines, which have become an albatross to our collective peace and development, he noted.
In a passionate appeal to all Northerners, regardless of religion or ethnicity, Kazir reiterated that the concept of the “Hausa-Fulani” represents an amalgamation of various Northern cultures”.
He argued that any attack on this collective identity is an attack on the entire region, urging Northern citizens to resist such efforts. Any injury to Hausa-Fulani, like malam or aboki, is an injury to the concept of Arewa, or Northern Nigeria and its people, which should be resisted by all conscious Northerners, he stressed.
The retired general also warned of the potential dangers of allowing division to fester, drawing parallels to conflicts in other countries like Libya, Iraq, and Syria, and called for pro-active measures to prevent the region from descending into chaos.
Kazir, therefore, urged for the strategic and aggressive countering of Arewa24s messages and identifying those behind the channels operations for neutralization.
He maintained that the Norths strength lies in its unity, which must be preserved at all costs.
