The Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), New Era faction, has expressed its displeasure over the 72-hour quit notice issued the Yoruba living in the North by the Arewa Youths Assembly (AYA).

In a statement on Sunday.made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, The OPC National Public Relations Officer, Adesina Akinpelu described the statement by the AYA as unnecessary, stating that the Hausa were never known to be enemies of the Yoruba people despite their differences.

The statement read in part, “The statement credited to one Mohammed Salihu Danlami, Speaker, Arewa Youths Assembly, is uncalled for. It is very unfortunate that some Hausa have refused to accept the reality that Fulani are the major problem bedeviling Nigeria as a nation.

“The Fulani have virtually hijacked everything from us; even Hausa always play the second fiddle. The Arewa Youths group should go back to history and check how the two tribes have worked together.”

The statement maintained that though the OPC had no grouse against the group, it will however not relent in its demand that criminal elements should exit Yoruba land.

The OPC added, “In as much as we want independence, the Yoruba are not against other tribes, who are law-abiding or those doing legitimate businesses in Yoruba land. We will not support anybody or group that tries to instigate Yoruba people against the law-abiding people of other tribes. No people or nation exists in isolation.

“The Fulani had tormented and seen to the collapse of Yoruba empires until the united Yoruba forces sent them back. We must come together to speak against our oppressors, who are operating as if they are above the law of the land.”.