Igbo youths called on the federal government on Friday to provide all required logistics for the quick trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
The organization, which has denounced Mazi Kanu’s continuing arrest without charge, has vowed to stage a large protest in Abuja if the government fails to hold a hearing on the case.
This was revealed in a statement signed by Igbo youths leaders and distributed to the press after an emergency leaders/stakeholders meeting in Enugu yesterday.
Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth wing, National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Nigerian Youth Congress, NYC, Association of South East Town Union Youth wing, ASETU, and the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS were among the young people.
On the topic of anti-open grazing, the organization praised the governors and legislators of Abia and Enugu states for signing the bill into law and urged their counterparts in Anambra, Imo, and Ebonyi to move quickly to ensure the bill is passed and signed into law.
The statement says: “That we are determined and committed to lasting peace, stability and security in the South East and Igbo land in general. We shall continue to work in solidarity with the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and other political classes in protecting and promoting Igbo interests in Nigeria.
“The current instability as witnessed in the Southeast today is not only as a result of obsolete and crumbling security architecture but gross mal-administration and leadership failure at all strata of government in the country and the insincerity of the political class.
“The arrest and continued detention without arraignment of our brother Nnamdi Kanu has led to civil unrest and disobedience in the southeast, we, therefore, call on the Federal Government to make available all necessary logistics needed for the timely and speedy trial of Nnamdi Kanu which must be fair and in accordance with laid down laws of the country, if not the Southeast youths will lead a protest to Abuja in that regard. Furthermore, we call on the Federal Government to exhibit similar dexterity shown in the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu case in other regions of the Country.
“We hereby call on the leadership of IPOB to have an interface with us to ascertain their actual take on the ongoing sit at home which has had an evident negative impact on the socio-economic life of the southeast region and her residents.
“We have noted with great dismay and disappointment, the failure of the Southeast Governors to activate and implement the Southeast Security Network known as Ebubeagu, we call for a revisit of this security architecture in the southeast where the youths must be included in the design and implementation of the said security network and proper legislation be enacted for that purpose in all the southeast state. This will clearly define the relationship between the government and the led (youths particularly).
“We have studied the issue of Youth participation in politics in Alaigbo and we want to use this medium to call on all Igbo Youths to get actively involved in politics and policymaking in their respective states (joining of political parties, registration to vote, and vying for elective positions). Let the forthcoming Anambra election serve as a litmus test.
“Consequently we will call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to give a level playing ground to all political parties participating in the election
“We stand with the decision of the Governors of Rivers and Lagos state on the need for States to collect VAT generated from their respective States and call on the Governors of the southeast to support the move.
While denouncing the Economic and Financial Crime Commission’s (EFCC) attack on the convention’s youth leaders, they requested that the EFCC provide an unreserved apology for such cruel behavior.
“We were taken aback while Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Enugu Zonal Office should disrupt our peaceful convention to the extent of harassing and arresting Youth Leaders who are attending the convention. Consequently, we condemn it in totality and call on the EFCC leadership to tender an unreserved apology to the youths of Alaigbo for this underserved treatment.”
