Igbo lawmakers are making plans to intercede for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra’s (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from government detention. The southeast lawmakers’ caucus said they will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders to secure the release of Nnamdi.
Following a meeting held in Abuja at the residence of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, the Igbo lawmakers released a communique to reveal the agenda and resolution of their meeting.
“We elaborately discussed the issue of Mazi Nnamdi and resolved to intervene,” they wrote. “To this end we resolved to set up a committee to constructively interface with relevant stakeholders, the Federal Government and its relevant agencies towards finding a political solution. We will keep Ndigbo abreast of developments in regard.”
The lawmakers appealed to people of the South-East to not allow themselves to be used for the destruction of the region. They made it clear that the “post-war South-East was not built through government patronage, but largely by the sheer determination and sacrifices of our people, who refused to resign to fate or bow their heads in defeat.”
The caucus also praised IPOB for calling off the sit-at-home order billed for Monday, saying this would have disrupted business and education activities in the region. They urged governors and security agencies in the South-East to sue for peace and promote the security of lives and property. They tasked the governors to uplift the standards of living of the people and to ensure that people are not threatened or live in fear as they go about their legitimate businesses.
Nnamdi Kanu was arrested by security operatives on charges of sedition and detained in government custody. His case has not been brought up for hearing in the courts and the IPOB is already demanding for his release.