Since October last year, southeast Nigeria has been politically tense with thousands of Igbo youths taking to the streets demanding the release of Mr Kanu was is being held by security agents. They have demanded among other things his unconditional release and organisations such as the Independent People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (Massob), threatening to make Nigeria ungovernable unless their demands were heeded.
However, in a bid to calm tensions, Igbo elders have opened up communication channels with the federal government to find a political solution to the crisis. Although Ohaneze Ndigbo has not yet disclosed details of its discussions, it added that discussions were already at an advanced stage between its leaders and key personalities in the presidency.
Mazi Okechukwu Iziguzoro, the national president of the Ohaneze Ndigbo youth wing, explained that notable traditional rulers, like the Sultan of Sokoto, Ooni of Ife, Emir of Kano and the Shehu of Borno, had been consulted on the issue. He added that the Igbo leaders assured the presidency and the royal fathers that they were prepared to prevail on Mr Kanu to discontinue the operation of Radio Biafra if he is released.
According to Mazi Iziguzoro, Ohaneze Ndigbo decided to initiate the Free Nnamdi Kanu campaign, as part of its Peace in Nigeria project. He noted that it is their conviction that dialogue, instead of protests, remained the best option to resolve contending issues.
These peace move initiated by the body yielded some fruits recently when the leadership of the Ohaneze Ndigbo addressed a joint news conference with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum and demanded the unconditional release of Kanu, in the interest of peace and harmony. According to Mazi Iziguzoro, these initiatives will end a lot of the current tension in the country.
He added: “For the past two months now, we have started to mediate with the federal government and other stakeholders in this country, with regards to what is happening to our zone. Ohaneze Ndigbo have also met with the family of Nnamdi Kanu, his younger brother, Emma, his sisters and other members of the family and we know their mindset.
“We are now convincing Kanu personally on the need to soften the stand of his movement. Before now, we had no access to him but we can now have access to him through the Directorate of State Service and explain issues he needed to understand."
Mazi Iziguzoro pointed out that if you are talking about Biafra, it is not only about one person but the entire Igbo nation who have multi trillion dollars investment across the country. Adding that they believe in a united Nigeria anchored on justice, equity and fairness, he said he believed that all problems and issues in the country can be solved through dialogue and roundtable discussion.
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