The Ohanaeze Youth Council, Wednesday, urged southeast youths to observe a one-month ceasefire to enable the efforts of the southeast caucus of the National Assembly to realize the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
THE WHISTLER reports that the National Assembly caucus from the southeast, led by Senator Ike Ekweremadu, recently stated that they had adopted political solutions towards the release of Mr Kanu.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Security since his extradition from Kenya to Nigeria for allegedly running a proscribed group and jumping bail in 2017.
Since his arrest, crises have taken tolls in the region, leading to sit-at-home on Mondays, killings and destruction of property by irate youths.
The position of Ohanaeze was contained in a statement by its president-general, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike.
According to him, “It is just proper that at this juncture, the NASS caucus and two governors who are making moves to secure Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom be given a chance.
“This is not the first time Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led NASS caucus will be playing this role. They did it in the past and it was fruitful. So, we advocate that they be given the benefit of the doubt.
“To this end, we appeal that every form of restiveness should cease henceforth till a period of one month, within which we expect to see visible progress towards the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
The youth group further pleaded with the federal government to ensure that Mr Kanu is arraigned in court on the scheduled October 21, 2021 in accordance with the law.
In his words, “There have been these claims that the federal government is delighted over the insecurity in the southeast. We don’t want to believe such an assertion. However, they should disprove it by ensuring that Nnamdi is produced in court on the 21st of this month.
“Anything to the contrary would mean adding fuel to the already ignited fire, but we are not praying for that. If the FG actually wants peace in the southeast, let them release Nnamdi Kanu. Anyone interested in peace in the zone should think of Kanu’s release, not sending military—brutal force has never solved any problem, rather dialogue.”
He also chided the tacit position of southeast leaders over Mr Kanu’s case.
According to him, “We were disappointed that he was not mentioned in the communiqué [issued at their last meeting in Enugu], rather they were talking about stopping sit-at-home, even when they don’t have the power.”
Nwachineke Onyeke Chekwube reporting, Obinwannem news writer/ October 13, 2021.
