The Indigenous People of Biafra popularly known as IPOB have listed conditions for peace between itself, the Federal government and governors from the South-eastern part of the Country where it has its base of operations.
IPOB laid out its demands after a meeting with Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), led by Professor Ben Nwabueze, seeking the de-proscription of IPOB as a terrorist organisation.
The meeting was held at meeting at the Atani, Ogbaru Council and the Anambra State residence of Professor Nwabueze.
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According to IPOB, this was part of the conditions for peace with Southeast governors and the Federal Government.
IPOB also demanded that criminal prosecution of its members arrested in various parts of the country be discontinued as their agitation for Biafra is recognised as an individual right and as such is protected by the Nigerian Constitution.
IPOB also went further to demand compensation for all its members who were killed during Operation Python Dance in the southeast and prosecution of the security men that murdered them.
The organisation finally demanded for an end to constant harassment and arrest of its members in any part of the country by security operatives.
The IPOB leadership observed that in all the prosecutions, none of its members had been found guilty or convicted for crimes. They said since the Ohanaeze and Southeast governors proscribed the group, they should also de-proscribe it.
The IPOB group which was led by their German-based General Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, had staged a mild walk out on the meeting following what they described as poor presentation and acceptance of their demands by the Ohanaeze leadership.
It was, however, agreed that another meeting with the five governors of the zone would be convened in Enugu on Wednesday, August 8, where the issues would further be deliberated upon.
While addressing reporters after the meeting in Anambra, Nwabueze said that the de-proscription of the organisation as a ‘terrorist’ group was key among other demands.
He said further that the ILT and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have agreed in principle to do all within their powers to ensure that the organisation was de-proscribed, adding that it would guarantee peace in Igbo land and the country in general.
Nwabueze also stated that Ndigbo desired peace, unity and development of Nigeria as a country and such was not achievable with the level of disenchantment in the land by various groups.
He cited the disenchantments as part of the reasons why Igbo people were pushing for the restructuring of the country, adding that should the country be restructured, agitations for secession would be checkmated once and for all and the Igbo Nation was not interested in producing a president under the present structure in the country.