From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
As one strategic measure of ensuring peace and stability in Nigeria, the United Igbo Elders Council, UNIEC has advised the Federal Government of Nigeria on the need to immediately release all political prisoners in Nigeria especially Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The group in a well worded press statement issued on Thursday, titled Nigeria’s Judiciary Should Earn The Peoples Trust endorsed by His Lordship (Bishop), Justice Alpha Ikpeama, and Prof. Obasi Igwe, the organization’s Director General and Director, Media and Publicity respectively, and made available to news men in Owerri including The Authority.
The group pointed out that judicial systems all over the world aspire to be relied upon and trusted by the people. And, it is mostly in the protection of the rights of the common man or weak side, not in aligning with the state to oppress them that this confidence is earned.
“For quite a long time, the Nigerian judiciary has been criticised for appearing not interested in being trusted by anybody. The violent removal of Chief Justice Onoghen, with a spineless judiciary lying dormant, the eight-year long impunities and disregard of court processes with the judiciary beholden to executive rascality, and especially the inability to enforce the release of citizens already set free by it, apart from all manners of strange electoral and other decisions, are adding to people’s frustrations. At long last, all avenues of escape have been blocked to Nigerians!
“Nnamdi Kanu has once again voiced dislike for the way he is being treated by Nigeria’s courts system. The only solution is the immediate and unconditional release of all of Nigeria’s mounting number of political prisoners, be they of the IPOB, Yoruba Nation, Hausa indigenous rights, Niger Deltans, Middle Beltans, civil rights campaigners, other peaceful agitators or whoever else.
“Opinions don’t kill, and should be considered as free speech for, if we insist on stifling them, there shall reach a time that everybody is treated any how by powerful people with no concern for consequences.
“Release Nnamdi Kanu and other political prisoners, engage with Nigerians especially the youths, and dowse agitations nationwide. The UNIEC believes that this can easily be done, if the political will exists” they passionately advised.
