Igbo World Assembly demands Kanu’s unconditional release

Obinwannem News Igbo World Assembly demands Kanu's unconditional release

• Any harm on Nnamdi Kanu might lead to unintended consequences

An Igbo organization in diaspora known as ‘Igbo World Assembly,’ IWA, has called for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB without conditions, while it warned the federal government against the use of force to stop agitators seeking self determination.

IWA, in a meeting held Thursday, requested for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, and other political prisoners, unconditionally; allowing Nigerians to decide their fate . It also advised the government to focus on addressing massive insecurity, unemployment, hunger, poverty and other challenges.

This was disclosed in a communiqué signed its Chairman, Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze. It was noted that Nigeria could only be saved in one form or the other, devoid of the current structure and 1999 Constitution; “through a negotiation that allows Nigerians to express their will and discuss their peaceful co-existence based on equity, respect and fairness and discuss their peaceful co-existence based on equity, respect and fairness”.

The group in the communiqué after considering the high rate of insecurity in Nigeria, massive agitation from all parts of Nigeria; ongoing killings, raping and destruction of farms and properties by killer herdsmen/Miyetti Allah, among other issues, noted that there was need for dialogue and negotiation, adding that.

”We need a serious dialogue among all the ethnic nationalities for Nigeria to continue its existence.

“The current situation whereby Southern Nigerians agitating for a free homeland are killed, arrested and detained, while cattle herdsmen/Miyetti Allah that kill our people and rape our women are protected can no longer be tolerated. That the abduction of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu cannot silence or end the agitation as the root cause for agitation remains unattended i.e., allowing the Nigerian people to decide their fate or live in freedom.”

IWA while affirming their “commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful coexistence, between and amongst its people through a national dialogue,” in the communiqué noted that, “the very existence of the IPOB, Sunday Igboho’s group and many other such group is a response to the present Nigerian administration and treatment towards Nigerian indigenous ethnic groups”.

“The federal government can use brutal force to arrest individuals, but cannot arrest the people’s agitation, and the will of the people cannot be arrested and suppressed by force. However, negotiation could bring lasting solution.

“It’s not a crime for anyone or group to express intention to leave any country peacefully and be on their own homeland without intending to occupy others. The federal government of Nigeria should negotiate with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other Southern Nigerian and Middle Belt Nigerian stakeholders on how to allow Nigerians to decide what type of country they want to be in.”

The group cautioned that failing to release Kanu and other political prisoners regardless of their ethnicity was nothing but declaring war on the Nigerian indigenous ethnic groups especially those in the Southern and Middle belt of Nigeria.

“And any harm to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu may lead to unintended consequences to the corporate existence of Nigeria. While not all the Igbos (sic) or all Southerners are members of IPOB, we are all members of Nigerian indigenous ethnic groups who feel the same pain.

“IWA wishes to emphasize, that under the circumstances, the unambiguously acceptable solution and path is one predicated on the restructuring of Nigeria with a new federal constitution or separation. Any of the path is fair to all and established without prejudice to any of the Nigerian Indigenous Ethnic Groups. It is the common meeting locus at which any entity working for the dignified identity, survival and progress of the Nigerian people will arrive. Nigerians do not need to be like Rwanda before findings a lasting solution,” the group concluded.

Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News | July 9, 2021

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