From Isaac Ojo, Awka
The people of Ogidi community in Anambra State have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to unconditionally free the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
Making the appeal on behalf of the community during his Ofala festival, the traditional ruler of Ogidi, HRM Igwe Pharm Alex Onyido, expressed the hope that the unconditional release of the IPOB leader will reduce crime and insurgency in South-East zone.
The Monarch said that the upsurge in crime, particularly kidnapping and cultism, was being tackled despite its phenomenal malaise all over the South-East.
“I am appealing to President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to come to the aid of the zone and effect the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
“This singular gesture of Mr. President will no doubt, mitigate incidents of insurgency and other criminal activities in the South-East.
“There is no gainsaying that continued detention of Mazi Kanu is disrupting the development of the Southern region with youth restiveness as the by-product.
“Let it be known that, until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to ethnic nationality; until there are no more first class and second class citizens of our dear country and until the ethnic nationality of Nigerian citizens is of no more significance than their national citizenship, until that day the dream of lasting peace, rule of law and national integration will remain oscillating illusion to be pursued but never attained,” he stated.
He said that the community had set up security committee to control the different challenges of security breaches, saying they were working with security agencies to organize youth conventions where seasoned resource persons would be invited to address the youths on the current insurgency and dangers of cultism.
