Of Magnus EzeEnugu
Despite The federal government has approached the Supreme Court to annul the release and acquittal of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, by the Court of Appeal, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo believes that there is still room for a political solution.
The Daily Sun reliably deduced that the chairman general of the Igbo apex body, Professor George Obiozor, contacted the presidency for a possible meeting.
President Muhammadu Buhari had said in previous meetings with delegations of Igbo elders that he would not interfere in the judicial process, urging them to allow the court to decide Kanu’s fate.
Although the Ohanaeze National Secretariat did not want to discuss the effort so far, two Igbo elders, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and First Republic Aviation Minister Chief Mbazulike Amechi, in separate interviews, hinted at behind-the-scenes moves to ensure the Kanu’s release.
Asked to comment on the high court appeal by the federal government while it was still holding the IPOB leader in custody, Amechi said he would not discuss the issue “because arrangements for a political solution are underway. That’s why I haven’t talked about it; we are looking for a political solution with the presidency. I would not like to anticipate what the outcome of the discussion would be.”
Ezeife also expressed his optimism that Kanu would soon be a free man.
Ezeife, who said the Court of Appeal ruling in favor of the self-determination activist was in keeping with the current spirit of a new Nigeria spreading across the country, especially among the youth, argued that the sooner Kanu be released better for the East. Nigeria, the nation and the entire black race.
“The Igbo elders plan to go to the president. If it means for me to kneel in front of everyone, I will kneel for him. If he wants me to bow down, I will bow down, but release Nnamdi Kanu and let’s silence some of the people who are fighting against the resurgence of Nigeria and black people. I must tell you that our leader, Professor George Obiozor; the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo called me the same day the problem arose and said that he is preparing for us to go to the president and convince him to do the right thing and I told him that I am ready. Very soon we will organize that appointment and go to the president”, affirmed the old statesman.
The southeast caucuses in both houses of the National Assembly last week called on the government to release the IPOB leader.
