The South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Federal High Court to uphold the fundamental rights of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
This was contained in a press statement jointly signed by His Grace, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, and His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr) Chibuzo Raphael Opoko.
The call followed the altercation between the IPOB legal team and DSS operatives during Mazi Kanu’s appearance in court last Wednesday, November 10.
The group, amongst other things, stated as follow:
“The South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops commend Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the entire leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for listening to our appeal and calling off the sit-at-home order. This has offered some relief to the already distressed social and economic life of our people.
“The Joint Body is relieved that the Anambra State Gubernatorial Election was conducted without any major incidents or breach of the peace. It also commends the people of Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Security Forces, the National Peace Committee, and all the other actors who contributed to the successful conduct of the election.
“The Joint Body is highly disturbed by the persistent complaints by the IPOB legal team about the difficulties it encounters in dealing with the Department of State Services (DSS) and, especially, the sad events which occurred during Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s appearance in court last Wednesday, November 10.
“This Body urges the court to affirm the fundamental rights of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, his lawyers, and other stakeholders. Failure to do so would lend weight to the suspicion in some quarters of a planned secret trial, as well as neutralise all the efforts being made to establish peace in the South East.
“The Joint Body acknowledges the statement by the Attorney-General & Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN, in which he affirmed that the Federal Government was open to a political solution to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case.
“This statement is in line with the proposal earlier made by this Joint Body and by other well-meaning persons and groups in Nigeria. This Body therefore eagerly awaits the concrete steps that would be taken in this regard.
“The Joint Body acknowledges the roles played by various other Igbo organizations and groups in fostering peace in the South East zone and calls on all to sustain the current effort until true peace, based on justice and equity, is achieved in our land.”