The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has been cautioned by the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), a socio-cultural organization, that threats of murder or imprisonment of agitators will not stop the movement for Biafra.
It stated that conversation and negotiation are still viable options for resolving the problem.
The group urged the government to exercise prudence in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Ohanaeze Youth Council, led by Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, reminded the Nigerian government in a statement made available on Friday that a genocidal war deliberately carried out with the help of Britain, Russia, France, Germany, and the United States of America from 1967 to 1970 could not silence or bury the agitation for Biafra, adding that no one or government, both at local and international levels, could
The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), a socio-cultural organization, has advised Igbo leaders, including current and former Governors, Senators, traditional and religious leaders, to rally around Nnamdi Kanu for his safety and to use the opportunity of his release to seek a workable approach for the political and economic survival of neighbors in Nigeria’s political project.
It stated that conversation and negotiation are still viable options for resolving the problem.
The group urged the government to exercise prudence in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Ohanaeze Youth Council, led by Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, reminded the Nigerian government in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Friday that a genocidal war deliberately carried out with the help of Britain, Russia, France, Germany, and the United States of America from 1967 to 1970 could not silence or bury the agitation for Biafra, adding that no one or government, both at local and international levels, could
The highest Igbo youth body has called on Igbo leaders, including current and former governors, senators, traditional and religious leaders, to rally behind Nnamdi Kanu and use his release to find a workable solution for the political and economic survival of neighbors in Nigeria’s political project.
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“The call for Nigerian unity is only a verbal gesture because the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has been practically complimenting the effort of pro-Biafra groups since 2015 through his pursuit of the Fulani agenda and open marginalization, injustice, and killing of IPOB and other self-determination groups in Alaigbo,” the statement said.
“No one throws a child out with the dirty water, and an elder who rescued a supposedly stubborn child has paved a new way of reasoning and the need to listen to the elders, so Ohanaeze Youth Council-OYC appeal to notable, noble, and great men of Igbo extraction to rise to the occasion and show their fatherly responsibility to save Nnamdi Kanu,” Igboayaka stated.
“Whether right or wrong, anyone who believes Nnamdi Kanu is alone should interview any Igbo youth in any Igbo community; you will be surprised to learn that Igbo kids still believe in Igwe Bu Ike and Onye Aghala Nwanne Ya. This evidential proof indicates that a reasonable administration may utilize Nnamdi Kanu to bring Nigeria to the negotiating table, but an unreasonable government will use Nnamdi Kanu’s trial to place Nigeria in a predicament much worse than the 1967-70 experience.
“At the end of every violent method, a peaceful strategy is always used to restore peace and unity,” he said, urging President Muhammadu Buhari and his team to make a U-turn and give a peaceful approach a chance to address Nnamdi Kanu’s issues, noting that the 1967-70 Biafra war failed to resolve the issue. Furthermore, judicial approaches to the quest for self-determination and Kanu’s trial will not solve the problem; instead, they will jeopardize Nigeria’s peace and unity.”
Kanu was re-arrested and repatriated from Kenya to Nigeria to face treasonous felony charges brought by the Nigerian government against him.
In light of this, he was hauled before Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court last month to continue his trial.
Kanu was remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS after Justice Nyako listened to Kanu and the government.
After the Nigerian military invaded Kanu’s Afaraukwu country home in 2017, he jumped bail and fled the country.
In a similar vein, Senate Minority Leader Enyinaya Abaribe has stated that in the same circumstances, he would stand surety for detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
During an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Abaribe stated this.
The lawmaker explained that the court had ordered him to stand surety for Kanu.
According to Abaribe, the court-mandated that one of the sureties be a Senator, so he had no choice but to offer himself as Chairman of the Southeast Senators Caucus.
