The Indigenous People of Biafra, on Tuesday, lashed out at the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, over his comment that Igbo governors will determine whether or not their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, should be released unconditionally, saying they were wiser than him and won’t fall for his antics.
This was as the Igbo group claimed that, with the stance of the Federal Government and that of Malami, there was a grand plan to make the country a terrorist haven, saying it was expedient for the authorities to obey the court judgment that granted its leader, Kanu, freedom.
The group’s Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, stated this in a statement on Tuesday, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH.
The statement read, “The attention of the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the leadership and command of the great liberator and prophet, Mazi Nnamdi KANU has been drawn to the unintelligent, disgraceful and incoherent statements credited to the Attorney General Abubakar Malami to the effect that the Igbo governors and politicians will decide whether Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be released unconditionally.
“IPOB believes that these Igbo governors and politicians that Malami wants to turn into a reviewing panel of the judgment of a competent court of jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal, know the game and evil intention of the AGF and will certainly not fall for his ‘Greek poison’ packaged in the deceptive form of making them relevant.
It added, “Malami and the APC government must release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally as declared by the Appeal Court and recommended by the UN Human Rights Working Group without delay because he committed no crime known to either local or international law.”
Meanwhile, the South-East Caucus in the House of Representatives has urged the President. Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to act like a statesman and consider a political solution to the issues surrounding Kanu.
Members of the caucus, who made the call across party lines in a statement issued on Tuesday, said the recent judgment by the Court of Appeal freeing Kanu is a window for the Buhari-led regime to consider political resolution of its issues with the IPOB leader.
The South-East Caucus made the call in a statement titled ‘Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial: Time to Win Peace,’ which was signed by the Deputy Majority Whip of the House, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; and Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu.
Other signatories were Messrs Nkem Uzoma-Abonta, Uko Nkole, Darlington Nwokocha, Samuel Onuigbo, Adaelu, Benjamin Kalu and Chimaobi Ebisike from Abia State; Lynda Ikpeazu, Chukwuka Onyema; Chris Azubogu, Obinna Chidoka, Dozie Nwankwo, Vincent Ofumelu, Chinedu Onwuaso, Chinedu Obidigwe, Ifeanyi Chudy Momah, Ezenwankwo Okwudili from Anambra State; Sylvester Ogbaga, Iduma Igariwey, Edwin Anayo, Livinus Makwe, Chinedu Ogar and Chukwuma Nwazunku from Ebonyi State; Patrick Asadu, Ofor Chukwuegbo, Dennis Amadi, Oke Martins, Nnolim Nnaji, Cornelius Nnaji and Simon Atigwe from Enugu State; and Jerry Alagboso, Bede Eke, Henry Nwawuba, Chike Okafor, Ikenna Elezianya, Emeka Chinedu, Mariam Onuoha, Ugonna Ozuruigbo, Pascal Obi and Kingsley Uju from Imo State.
The lawmaker said, “Times like this call for statesmanship. This is therefore a special appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to take a fatherly introspection on this issue and toe the path of negotiated solution with guarantees on both sides; and we trust that Mr President will not allow this veritable opportunity to win peace and write his name in gold pass by.”
Meanwhile, the Southeast council of traditional rulers and representatives of Igbo archbishops and bishops on peace and conflict resolution has demanded the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu.
The council’s decision was contained in a statement signed by the council’s chairman, Nnaemeka Achebe; Anambra state traditional rulers’ council; Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Chibuzo Opoko; Chairman of the Enugu State traditional rulers’ council, L.O.C. Agubuzu; and Valerian Okeke of the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha.
The statement read partly, “We therefore unequivocally support the call for the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in line with the unanimous judgement of the Court that his extradition and subsequent trial was illegal, and the lower court had no jurisdiction to hear the case.”
