The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has finally broken silence on the arrest and repatriation of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Ohanaeze broken its silence in a communiqué signed by its spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia and issued Sunday morning following its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
Speaking for the first time since arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, Ohanaeze said it is not against Kalu’s trial but demanded fairness in the trial.
It said it had constituted a legal team led by National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and eminent Igbo Leaders to monitor the legal proceedings.
Ohanaeze noted the grievances of Igbo youths on the marginalisation and menace of herdsmen among others in the region and assured that adequate action will be taken.
The communiqué states: “That Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has observed with keen interest the recent re-arraignment and consequent trial of our son, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“That, in as much as Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not averse to his trial, we however submit that he should be tried within the ambit of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in line with global best practices”.
Ohanaeze expressed support for the stand taken by the Southern Governors Forum on anti-open grazing, restructuring, rotation of the President of Nigeria to the South in 2023, and the Petroleum Industries Bill (PIB).
It added: “We identify with the Igbo youths in their grievances with respect to Igbo marginalisation, the menace of the Fulani herdsmen, etc, however, we do not support the use of any form of violence to redress the relative deprivation and prevailing inequality and injustice across the country.”
It also appealed to the Igbo youths to be law-abiding and allow their leaders and stakeholders address those collective grievances through meaningful dialogue and negotiations.
Ohanaeze finally enjoined Igbo youths to take the ongoing voters’ registration exercise seriously, saying that “this is the only means that guarantees effective participation in Nigerian politics and a sine qua non to achieve our goals and aspirations in the Nigerian project.”