The South east Traditional Rulers Council and representatives of Igbo bishops have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to them, so as to initiative a dialogue that could end the current killings and insecurity in the zone
The council, which expressed deep concern at the high level of insecurity and socio-economic disruption in the South East zone, which it noted has deepened the hardships being faced by the citizens and rendered prostrate the socio-political and economic lives of the people, also admonished he president o de – proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),
The Traditional rulers in a joint statement signed by Igwe Charles Mkpuma Chairman, Ebonyi State Trad. Rulers Council &Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Joseph N. Nwabeke, Chairman, Abia State Trad. Rulers Council. Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR Chairman, Anambra State Trad. Rulers Council, Igwe Amb L. O. C. Agubuzu, OON Chairman,Enugu State Trad. Rulers Council, Eze Dr. E. C. Okeke, Chairman, Imo State Traditional Rulers Council, as well as Most Rev. Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, Catholic Archbishop of Owerr, Most Rev. Dr Emmanuel O. Chukwuma, OON, Anglican Archbishop of Enugu, Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzo R. Opoko, TFG, DOB, JP Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian M. Okeke, Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Dr Uma A. Onwunta , Past Principal Clerk Presbyterian Church Nigeria, Bishop Obi Onubogu
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Rev. Dr. Abraham Nwali, Chairman, CAN, South East Zone, urge the Federal Government and other stakeholders to explore dialogue and negotiation in resolving critical issues that threaten national unity, cohesion and development.
“We refer to our earlier request for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops and restate this call even more strongly. We are of the firm belief that this act of courage and statesmanship is not only imperative but will speedily de-escalate the heightened state of insecurity and dislocation the zone.
“We also urge President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and the Federal Government to take immediate steps to de-proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and release all IPOB members being held in various detention facilities in Nigeria.
The Council went further to call on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to demilitarize the South East Zone, stressing that it has become apparent that a continued military siege on the region can only lead to heightened tension, skirmishes and endless bloodletting between the security agencies and the youths.
“We assert that heightened inequality and marginalization remain at the core of youth restiveness in our region. We urge our apex National Leadership to note that until it takes deliberate steps to run government on the basis of fairness, equity, justice and non-discrimination, this restiveness is likely to continue.
The council expressed its readiness to seek audience with the President to discuss issues in exploring political solution and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, even as it urged the members of IPOB to cancel the scheduled Sit – at – home order from November 5, noting that the order has already caused untold hardship on people of the zone, even as it called on the group to avoid any act that would hinder or be seen to be hindering the smooth running of the forthcoming Governorship Election in Anambra state.
