Ohanaeze lobbies Northern leaders, Asari Dokubo over Kanu’s release
By Kenneth Onyekwere, Abakiliki
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has intensified moves to Lobby some Northern Leaders as well Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples volunteer force, Mujahid Asari Dokubo towards the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Leader of indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB).
Ohanaeze stated that although, there are ongoing efforts by Northern Leaders and Asari Dokubo to pressure the federal government not to accept Igbo’s request for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
A statement signed by Ohanaeze’s factional Secretary-general, Mazi Okechukwu lsiguzoro on Wednesday, while reacting to the comment of the detained IPOB Leader, Kanu that he would not beg the Federal Government for his release.
According to the statement, Kanu went further to state that it would be an insult to the loving memories of the late Igbo elder statesman, Pa Mbazulike Amaechi who died in 2022 at the age of 91.
Recall that a delegation of Igbo Eldersmen had solicited the release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu after the appeal court ordered his release.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo has insisted that Nnamdi Kanu’s statement is in order and that people should stop begging for his release. However, the organization maintains that the Appeal Court’s pronouncement over Kanu remains sacrosanct and that the Supreme Court should fix a date for the hearing of the appeal filed by the government against Kanu’s release.
“The organization also called on the Federal Government to obey the rule of law and release Kanu unconditionally, as he has been in detention for over the years without adherence to court orders.
Read Also: Troops destroy illegal refineries, arrest 16 suspected oil thieves
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, is believed to have played a significant role in the earlier release of Nnamdi Kanu in 2017, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“The organization is said to have sent a delegation to the North and prominent Nigerians to pacify them and seek their support for Kanu’s release.
“This time around, Ohanaeze Ndigbo is likely to adopt a similar strategy, focusing on underground networking with critical stakeholders and appealing to those who were aggrieved by Kanu’s broadcasts in the past.”
It stated that Ohanaeze may also seek the assistance of Igbo billionaire business moguls and the leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), who played a significant role in the previous release of Kanu in 2017.
“However, the current situation is more challenging due to the lack of diplomatic underground work and the need to pacify some friends of the government, especially some Northern leadership and groups and Asari Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant.
While saying that the violent sit-at-home protests have also not brought any desired outcome, urging Igbos to change tactics in their efforts to secure Kanu’s release.
