Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has called on Igbos to ignore the sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The organisation demanded the unconditional release of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
A press release issued by Secretary-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo faction, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro explained that the planned sit-at-home could cause avoidable economic hardship on the Igbos.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide had demanded that the Federal Government should release the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra to avert possible breakdown of law and order across the country. The continuous incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu will attract grave consequences on Nigeria and the Nigerian Government.”
He said that the sit-at-home declaration aimed at pressurising the Nigerian authorities to release Nnamdi Kanu will destroy the backstage activities and efforts of Igbo leaders and politicians to use diplomatic means to get him released.
“There is hunger and hardship in Southeastern Nigeria. From sad experiences of past ‘ sit-at-homes,’ there were economic losses, destruction of properties, and hikes in prices of food and essential materials across Southeastern Nigeria, and Igbos painstakingly endured untold hardship and this must not continue,” the document stated.
Isiguzoro explained that Igbos should circumvent the hardships associated with sit-at-home and ignore it and go to their normal businesses on Monday.
“IPOB should review their stance and unveil more strategic planning with Southern Nigerian Governors and Legislators to press for the release of Nnamdi Kanu without hurting or subjecting the people to sorrow, affliction and despair.”
However, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) – the apex socio-political Youth Group in the South East region has dismissed as senseless, a recent threat by IPOB to place the entire South East region under lockdown next Monday until its leader Nnamdi Kanu is granted unconditional release by the Federal government.
COSEYL, in a statement jointly signed by its Presifent-General and Secretarry-General – Goodluck Ibem and Kanice Igwe respectively argued that shutting down the region and its economic activities would not augur well for anybody or group and therefore not a win-win case at a time like this.
COSEYL said that although it appreciates that right to self-determination is a property of the late 1940s Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which every human group is entitled to and to which Nigeria is a signatory together with other instruments of international law, it does not see economic wisdom in shutting down business and work-related activities on Mondays which it (IPOB) had labeled ‘Ghost Mondays.’
Meanwhile, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the counsel to Kanu, has disclosed that the IPOB leader is strong in his conviction, adding that he is in high spirit, despite being incarcerated.
The lawyer disclosed this after a routine visit to the IPOB leader at the headquarters of the Department of State Services, DSS, on Thursday.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is strong in his convictions, and very much high in spirit.
“Our interactions dwelt much on our professional services, which highlights remain private.
“May the Mighty Name of Chukwuokike be praised forever. Victory is certainly ours.”
It would be recalled that Kanu has been in DSS detention since he was rearrested and repatriated to Nigeria.
The IPOB leader was rearrested and repatriated from an unspecified African country believed to be Kenya.
Kanu’s stay in DSS custody followed an order by Justice Binta Nyako of Abuja Federal High Court, following his repatriation to Nigeria.
However, the secret police last week failed to produce the IPOB leader in court.
Independent Newspaper
