About
52 groups from the South East and the South South have threatened to merge with
the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), if Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not released
unconditionally, in obedience to a high court ruling in December 2015 ordering
his unconditional release.
Kanu
has been in detention ever since he was arrested in October last
year at his hotel room in lagos by the operatives of SSS.
The
groups which met in Enugu, under the chairmanship of Bishop Micheal Ibeneme met
at the residence of Chief (Mrs) Maria Okwor in Independence Layout Enugu. This
would be their third meeting in recent months.
The
groups comprising of Christian religious bodies, students associations, Town
unions, Age grades, Traders Associations, Women’s groups, youth organizations
and Elders council deliberated for several hours over the weekend on the state
of the nation and concluded that the F.G is steadily making it difficult for
the country to remain one, through its brazen, oppressive and determined effort
to strike fear into the hearts of citizens in order to foist a fascist reign of
ethnic, regional and religious dominance of one region over another, and vowed
to resist such unholy agenda, as “Capitulation to the agenda would mean
sentencing our progeny to a permanent status of serfs, everything is being done
to rub in that we are not part of Nigeria. Buhari is deliberately pushing us
out of Nigeria\’.
The
meeting which also had in attendance over a dozen groups from the Niger Delta
insisted that the delay to redesign Nigeria to six regions is the source of 99%
of the problems afflicting the nation today.
In
a two point communique, the groups declared that six regional structure remains
the only formula to salvage, and rebuild Nigeria, noting that those opposed to
six regional structure were only working towards the eventual disintegration of
the country. They said that all political, economic and social indicators
pointed to the self-evident truth that only an early reversal to the
six-regional structure will save the country now.
The
groups also condemned in no uncertain terms the continued detention of Mazi
Nnamdi Kanu after two courts of the land granted him unconditional release,
maintaining that the over-ruling of the courts, by Mr. President in a
television chat with journalists pointed to an unacceptable travesty, where the
presidency takes final decision on matters properly handled by the judiciary.
Therefore,
continued the groups “we are giving notice to the world, that if the unjust,
provocative and very divisive detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not specially
looked into for the sake of peace, equity and justice, we may no longer
restrain our members, affiliates, friends and sisters groups who have indicated
their resolve to join and merge with the IPOB in solidarity with their
persecution and unjust detention of their leader. Pursuit of self-determination
is the inalienable right of all oppressed people the world over as endorsed by
the United Nations Chatter on freedom.
We
are being forced and pressured by the uncompromising attitude of the oppressor
to defend and protect the future of our progeny. The current master/servant
relationship as typified by the unworkable, military constitution is
suffocating us. Enough is Enough”.
Speaking
to reporters after the meetings, Comrade Chimezie Ubani, President of Igbo
Student Union said “We pleaded for restructure they refused, we pleaded for a
referendum they said no, they treat us like slaves, Fulani herdsmen raping our
women, killing our farmers, abducting our priests, all the 54 tertiary
institution in the east have resolved to join the IPOB to turn it to the
largest mass movement in the world. We have come to the point where Mr
President must know that he just cannot continue detaining an innocent man. We
have already printed our ID Cards, from now henceforth we are all IPOB”.
Lady
Ifeoma Nwankwo, chair-person of the Onitsha Fish Dealers Association complained
’631 IPOB member’s has been slaughtered by the F.G. this year alone, some
kidnapped in hospitals and killed, it is unacceptable. Mazi Chidiebere Onwudiwe
was kidnapped by the DSS in June, with a laughable allegation of planning to
bomb churches and computer village heaped on him by the DSS, for 4 months they
have held him incommunicado without charging him to court. what do you call
this if not fascism. A mixture of Hitler and Idi Amin in the making.
Subjugation through reign of terror. We are all IPOB henceforth.
Chief
Chris Obikwelu, Chairman of Igbo Traders Association, said “if Kanu is not
released this month, every trader will now go about with IPOB ID Cards, its one
year now since they locked up an innocent man, they are indirectly telling us
that we are nothing, that we are inconsequential, that they can treat us any
how they like, we are tired of the oppression”.
Bishop
Michael Ibeneme, who chaired the meeting, said “Every effort to resolve the
structural defects of this country is being rebuffed by people who love to ride
on the back of others, people whose world view is that of subjugating others to
slavery and eternal domination. They are pushing us to the wall, they are doing
all they can to provoke us to action. We call on Mr President to release Nnamdi
Kanu and reduce the anger and bitterness in the land. Those advising otherwise
do not wish him well”.
Chief
Maria Okwor added “There is nothing like one Nigeria Buhari is waging war
against two regions, he can not intimidate anybody in his hatred, he is
marching to destruction. Without justice there cannot be peace, without peace
there cannot be unity, and without unity we cannot make progress. Buhari believes
the people who fought for and got independence should remain his slaves, he is
badly mistaken, only a return to the six region will save Nigeria. Everybody
knows it, Delay is unhelpful”.
Evang.
Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, founder of Igbo Youth Movement and Deputy Secretary of
Igbo Leaders of Thought, explained “This is our third meeting and I can tell
you, there is a pervasive feeling that Abuja might not fully be aware of the
anger in the land. It is possible, those around the seat of power are lying to
Mr President, possibly in the hope of shielding the truth from him. If he knew
the degree of bitterness in the hearts of millions of citizens, he would have
released Nnamdi Kanu long ago. His continuous detention is fueling division in
the land. It is the oxygen mobilizing millions of aggrieved youths, the
foreboding is dangerous”. The meeting adjourned till the first week of
November.
Groups
which attended the meeting includes, Igbo Women Assembly, Igbo Youth Movement,
South East Christian Network, Igbo Traders Association, Igbo Students Union,
CAN, PFN, Umuada Alaigbo, World Igbo Congress, Niger Delta Youth Forum, South
East Professionals, Igbo in Academia, Eastern Nigerian Congress, South South
Youth Congress and Igbo Diaspora Organization, others are Umuigbo United Front,
South South/South East Coalition, Traditional Healers Union, United Road
Workers Union and Food Stuff Dealers Association, etc.
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