The apex Igbo social-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called on the Federal Government to release detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who is being tried on charges bordering on treasonable felony, maintaining an illegal organisation, illegal possession of fire arms and so on.
However, the group maintained that it was not in support of the strategy adopted by Kanu, who is also Director of Radio Biafra, in its demand for the creation of a sovereign state of Biafra, as a way of addressing the long-term marginalisation of the Igbos.
In a statement by the Secretary General of Nidgbo, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, the group said it believed the marginalisation of the Igbos could be addressed within Nigeria and it was not necessary to create another nation out of the current one or resort to violent conduct.
He said: “Kanu’s solution to the Biafran matter is different from ours and not acceptable to us. Kanu and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo are operating on different sides of the coin. He and the youths believe in going out to the streets to protest. Kanu’s despondency is much deeper than ours. I am not trying to justify his method but we demand his unconditional release.”
“For us that witnessed the civil war, our approach now is that Nigeria’s problems can be solved within Nigeria and by Nigerians. Ohanaeze will not support secession and violence. This is why we are agitating that the 8th National Assembly implements the confab report evolved during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“This includes the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference. The National Assembly must not fail us.
“What we are fighting for in the present dispensation is that the wickedness of over 35 years after the civil war should be corrected. “Justice and equity must be the hallmarks of the new government. We maintain our stand that the confab report should be implemented.”