The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has said that President Bola Tinubu would write his name in gold if he orders the release of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
President-General of the group, Chief Fidelis Chukwu, made this known in Enugu while welcoming Tinubu ahead of his official visit to Enugu State today.
In a statement issued by the spokesman of the Igbo group, Dr. Alex Ogbonna, Chief Chukwu also hailed President Tinubu over what he described as the gradual behavioural change of the federal government towards the Igbo.
“This can be seen with the inauguration of the South East Economic Commission, the appointment of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, as the Chief of Naval Staff, Sen. David Umahi as the Minister for Works, inclusion of some eminent Igbo in federal boards and parastatals,” he said.
The group also commended the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, for his disruptive, innovative and massive infrastructural developments in the state within a short period of his administration.
The statement reads, “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide welcomes Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as he pays official visit to Enugu State on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo expresses immense delight over the gradual attitudinal change of the federal government towards the Igbo. Ohanaeze has insisted that national peace, unity, patriotism and sustainable economic development of any country are the outcomes, effects or products of equity, and social justice. In other words, there is hardly any society or group that can be complacent under severe existential threats such as orchestrated marginalization, relative deprivations, and external instigation of insecurity, conflagrations and crises.
“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Nze Ozichukwu Fidelis Chukwu has expressed optimism that with the inauguration of the South East Economic Commission, the appointment of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, as the Chief of Naval Staff, Sen. David Umahi as the minister for works, inclusion of some eminent Igbo in federal boards and parastatals, etc. It is therefore hoped that with the Enugu visit, President Tinubu will write his name with gold in the hearts of Ndigbo and all the well-meaning Nigerians, if he orders for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We seize this opportunity to commend His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, them Governor of Enugu State for his disruptive, innovative and massive infrastructural developments in Enugu State; Enugu International Conference Centre, Enugu Smart schools in all the electoral wards of Enugu State, hospitals across the states, resuscitation of Hotel Presidential Enugu, Flour Mills, Nigergas, the construction and rehabilitation of hundreds of roads in the State, etc, within a short period of his administration.
“We also appreciate His Excellency, Sen Hope Odidika Uzodimma, CON, the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Chairman of the All Progressive Governors Forum, for the life-saving installation of Night Landing Equipment at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri.
“Finally, we wish President Tinubu a safe, joyous and eventful trip as he is treated with the Igbo hospitality in Enugu State.”