IPOB, A Reflection Of Igbos’ Collective Predicament In Nigeria- Ohaneze

Police shoot 17 IPOB members

Awka – The Apex Igbo Socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the leader o the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is produced in court on Thursday.

This, it said, is necessary to prove to the global community that Nnamdi Kanu is not only hale and hearty but that shady judicial process is not contemplated  while on trial.

Kanu is due for appearance in court on Thursday over charges of treason.

His initial appearance in court in July, was marred by the failure of the Department of State Security, DSS to bring him to court, and many have feared this week’s trial may witness the same trend.

In a statement on Monday, the Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia said the apex Igbo organization stands on a firm wicket to proclaim that the agitation and youth restiveness in the South East of Nigeria is simply a reaction to an orchestrated alienation by the federal government over the years.

According to the group, until some of the issues of obvious injustice against the Igbos are seen to be addressed, the chains of catastrophe that threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria may well-nigh be inevitable.

It maintained that it is not difficult to observe that IPOB is simply an exponent of Igbos’ collective sentiments and predicaments “in their tortuous journey and an unquantifiable sacrifice for one Nigeria.”

“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador George Obiozor had in his inaugural speech on January 20, 2021, called on the Presidency to consider Dialogue as a panacea to peace; insisting that the jackboot approach to the IPOB uprising will rather aggravate the precarious situation.

“Professor Obiozor, urged the Federal Government to reconsider the use of force in solving the present national crises.

“Ohanaeze considers the use of dialogue and political solution as the only workable option open to the presidency and indeed all men and women of goodwill that desire peace and sustainable growth for Nigeria,” it said.

Ohanaeze recalled how the federal government had held dialogue meetings with other restive groups in the country but failed to dialogue with the IPOB.

“The Internet shows the global rating of Miyetti Allah as a terrorist group, yet the Federal Government has met with the body in search of peace.

“During the time of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the Niger Delta was at the peak of youth restiveness and Yar’Adua opened a channel for dialogue and the matter was over.

“President Goodluck Jonathan, during his incumbency, had set up a committee commonly referred to as the Presidential Committee on Dialogue with Boko Haram, an initiative which has been sustained by President Buhari administration.

“As at today, Governors in the North have openly demonstrated their desire for dialogue with dreaded groups terrorizing their regions; the videos clips abound.

“Based on the foregoing, the Ohanaeze structures, including the Council of Elders, Council of Traditional Rulers, the Igbo Governors, Igbo NASS members, government officials, Archbishops and the Clergy, stakeholders, Youth and Women Wings, Town Union, etc are ready for a meaningful dialogue with the Federal Government of Nigeria on a plethora of challenges facing the igbo nation and Nigeria. Our core objective is a sense of belonging in a country anchored on equity, justice and fairness,” it said.

The Igbo group urged the leader of its delegation to the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and its legal team led by the National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Barr. Joseph Ojodu and Barr. Goddy Uwazurike, to put in their very best to ensure that Nnamdi Kanu obtains justice.

 

 

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