Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, has called for an end to the deceptive tactics employed by Igbo political leaders (Southeast governors, Senators, House of Representative members, and others) about the release of Nnamdi Kanu. It has become a disheartening trend among Southeast political elites to exploit the dire situation of the Southeast for their political gains.
Unfortunately, many Igbo political leaders have proven to be renegades against the populace, feigning concern for the release of Nnamdi Kanu while manipulating the prevailing insecurity challenges to sustain their political positions and privileges. This deceptive behavior is a betrayal of the Igbo people, and Ndigbo must recognize this truth. Unlike their counterparts in Afenifere, Pandef, and Middlebelt political leadership and Elders who prioritize the welfare and well-being of their people, these Igbo political leaders have shown a lack of genuine commitment towards the betterment of Ndigbo and ending the ugly situation of insecurity in the Southeast.
While there are a few honest Igbo leaders, they have unfortunately chosen to retreat. Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretary General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, emphasizes the need for Biafra agitators to assist in restoring peace in the Southeast and to understand the truth of the situation. The judicial process surrounding the ongoing prosecution of Nnamdi Kanu must be allowed to reach a logical conclusion before his release can be considered, as it is the prerogative of the judiciary. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his willingness to take appropriate action to end the Southeast insecurity challenges at the right time but Kanu’s release might be after the legal proceedings have been concluded. However, the immediate priority is to distinguish genuine Biafra agitators from criminals who exploit the struggle for Biafra to perpetuate insecurity challenges and commit crimes. We urge Biafra agitators to work towards filtering out these criminals and ensuring that the true goals of the Biafra struggle are not compromised.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo further condemns the opportunistic claims made by some Igbo political elites who exploit and manipulate the incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu for their political gain, they are using Kanu’s release to gamble on the people for relevance. This is an insincere and unacceptable tactic that undermines the genuine aspirations and concerns of the Igbo people.
In light of these issues, Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls for unity and vigilance among Ndigbo. We must be discerning and hold our political leaders accountable for their actions. Only through transparency, honesty, and genuine commitment to the well-being of the Southeast can we achieve lasting progress.
