Free Nnamdi Kanu now – Southern Nigeria Leaders Demand

Infuriated by the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, despite court rulings ordering his release, leaders from Southern Nigeria have demanded his immediate re­lease.

This position was adopted by the leaders after their meet­ing on Tuesday in Umuahia, Abia State, under the aegis of the Expanded Elders/Man­agement Committee meeting of the Southern Nigeria Peo­ples Assembly (SNPA).

The meeting which was chaired by the First Republic Minister for Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, was massively attended by elder statesmen and opinion leaders from the South West, South South, and South East geopo­litical zones of the country.

The leaders who brain­stormed on the various boil­ing national issues in the country accused President Muhammadu Buhari of fla­grant abuse of the rule of law, warning that the President’s actions pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s unity.

They bluntly told Buhari to immediately release Kanu and other unlawfully- held citizens and refrain from his dictatori­al tendencies, to save Nigeria from avoidable turmoil.

The demand for Kanu’s im­mediate release was contained in an 11- point communique issued by the elders and signed by Chief Mbazulike Amaechi (Chairman of Session); Chief Edwin Clark, (Co-Chairman/Leader South South); and Senator Femi Okurounmu (Representing Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Co-Chairman/Lead­er South West).

It read in part: “That Presi­dent Buhari should respect the rule of law, pronounce­ment and ruling of Courts of competent jurisdiction by ensuring the immediate re­lease of Nnamdi Kalu and all other prisoners of conscience which various courts have granted bail and who have subsequently met their bail conditions.

“The principle of separation of power must be applied to advance our democracy and strict adherence to acceptable dignified tenets of investiga­tion, arrest and prosecution be applied.”

The Southern leaders also urged the President to engage Biafra agitators and Niger Delta Avengers in meaningful dialogue instead of using for e to suppress them.

“We call on the Federal Government to negotiate with the Niger Delta agitators/Avengers and the agitators for Biafra to find a peaceful resolution of their grievances rather than the current use of force.”

They insisted on restructur­ing of Nigeria as a way to save the country from the loom­ing danger claiming that Ni­geria as currently structure only serves the interest of the North.

The Southern leaders ex­pressed worry over the undue influence of Northern elders on President Buhari, which they said accounts for his lop­sided appointments in favour of the North.

“We demand that the Northern Elders desist from infusing the present adminis­tration the “we versus them” mentality which is responsible for creating division and sus­picion in the polity. Therefore the government should con­sciously ensure equitable dis­tribution of appointments and projects.

“The extant and lopsided appointments into Federal positions and offices which indeed, are skewed against the people of Southern Nigeria especially the South East and South South is unacceptable, unconstitutional and is capa­ble of eroding the confidence of the people of the Southern Nigeria on the ability of this government to protect their interest”, the leaders noted.

They also demanded the im­mediate implementation of the recommendations of the

2014 national conference to save Nigeria from imploding considering the upsurge of tensions in various regions.

“We call on President Mu­hammadu Buhari to take pos­itive steps to ensure the imple­mentation of the resolutions of the 2014 National Confer­ence without further delay.

“The unwillingness of the President Buhari administra­tion to begin the implementa­tion of the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference is objectionable as the resolu­tions of that Conference if implemented shall resolve the many political, socio-eco­nomic and security challenges of the nation.”

The leaders noted with great concern the orgy of attacks on Southern communities by herdsmen and the docility of the federal government in calling the mindless killers to order.

“The herdsmen attack in Southern Nigeria is a reoccur­ring feature despite repeated calls to the Federal Govern­ment to deal with this issue decisively. The rampaging at­tacks, raping, wanton destruc­tions of lives and properties of innocent Nigerians have con­tinued unabated particularly the recent killings in Enugu state, Benue State which bor­ders with Cross River state does not make for peaceful co-existence and stability of the country.”

The leaders therefore, urged all Southern states to adopt the Ekiti State model in tackling the herdsmen menace, while also urging the States’ Houses of Assembly in the South to legislate against the controver­sial grazing bill.

“That the National Assembly and State Assemblies should legislate the prohibition of no­madic grazing by herds men and the establishment of graz­ing reserves and ranches with public funds. We therefore call on the National Assembly to oppose the grazing bill in both chambers.

“That the Southern Gover­nors and the States Assem­blies of the South are advised to follow the Ekiti Model of handling the Herdsmen attack without rancor.

“That the draft ill-conceived Grazing bill which seeks to es­tablish grazing reserves across the states of Nigeria is not only anachronistic and antiquated, but also an unfortunate im­position of what ought to be private commercial business ventures into a national or government business”.

The leaders also noted with concern the rapid collapse in the nation’s infrastructure es­pecially the supply of power, the deplorable state of Federal roads in Southern Nigeria and their negative impact on our economy.

“As a matter of urgency, gov­ernment should find solution to our infrastructural deficit, particularly electricity supply and rehabilitation of Federal roads in Southern Nigeria.”

Voicing their strong opposi­tion to the rumoured plans to sell national assets, the lead­ers tasked Buhari to look for ways to fix Nigeria’s wobbling economy which has made life frustrating and unaffordable for the masses.

“We oppose the present pro­posal for sale of Public assets in any guise to avoid further abuse and misappropriation.

“We are alarmed at the un­precedented loss in value of Naira against other major foreign currencies which has resulted in the inability of the business and manufacturing sectors to source enough for­eign exchange for their opera­tions. This development has reduced the productive capac­ity of the real sector leading to increased unemployment and has brought untold hardship to Nigerians.

“The inability of many state governments to pay salaries and pensions duly has brought untold hardship to the families of hard working Nigerians.”

While supporting the anti- graft crusade, the leaders cau­tioned Buhari against using it as a cover to hoodwink his perceived political foes. “We call on Nigerians to support Buhari in the war against cor­ruption but in doing this, we urge him to respect the rule of law, the protection of citi­zens fundamental rights and the pronouncements of the Courts of competent jurisdic­tion.

“The President should note that the war on corruption should neither be vindictive nor selective as selective jus­tice amounts to injustice.

“The fight against corrup­tion should be total and inclu­sive. Where prosecution, con­viction and recovery of loot should be applied irrespective of status, political affiliation and ethnicity. Plea bargaining should be discontinued.”

The leaders also advocated economic cooperation among Southern governors for the economic advancement of the region. “That the SNPA in collaboration with South­ern Governors organize a Southern Economic Summit for economic collaboration and cooperation between the states and to enhance eco­nomic diversification.”

Some of the Southern elders at the meeting were: former Governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife; former Military Ad­ministrator of Akwa Ibom State, Otuekong Idongesit Nkang; and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

Others were former Senate President, Adolf Wabara; for­mer Deputy Governor of La­gos State, Senator Kofo Buc­knor Akerele; Sen. Anthony Adefuyi; and former Minister for Women Affairs, Iyom Jo­sepine Anenih.

Present also were: Gen Tony Etukudoh; former Nigeria Ambassador to the US, Prof George Obiozor; ex- Minister for Health, Professor Ihechuk­wu Madubuike; Sen Adele­kan; and Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw.

Others included: Rt. Hon Tunde Akogun; Senator Mo­jisoluwa Akinfenwa; Sen Ro­land Owie; Col. Pam Oga, Chief Simon Nsobundu Okeke ; and the Chancellor of Gregory University , Dr. Greg Ibe, among a host of others.

The Abia State Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu; his deputy, Rt. Hon Ude Oko Chukwu; Speaker Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike; and members of Abia state executive council as well as eminent sons and daughters of the state also at­tended the forum.

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