Free Nnamdi Kanu to prove genuine commitment to peace in S’East, Igbo group tells FG *  Advocates creation of indigenous vigilante outfits

Free Nnamdi Kanu to prove genuine commitment to peace in S’East, Igbo group tells FG

*  Advocates creation of indigenous vigilante outfits

By Steve Oko

A pro-Igbo group, Igwebuike Alaigbo, has challenged the Federal Government to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to prove that it is genuinely committed to the restoration of peace in the South East geopolitical zone.

Wawa News Global reports that the challenge was one of the major highlights of the group’s three-day inaugural conference held at the Bishop Anthony Nwedo Pastoral Centre, Umuahia, Abia State.

The conference which was attended by major stakeholders from all seven -Igbo speaking states of South East, Delta and Rivers States, frowned at the continued incarceration of the IPoB leader which they blamed for the unrest and festering insecurity in the zone.

Participants at the conference convened by the Ecclesiastical Archbishop of Aba Province and Bishop of Isiala Ngwa South Diocese, Anglican Communion, His Grace, Archbishop Isaac Nwobia, said it amounted to hypocrisy for the Federal Government to be pretending to be concerned about insecurity plaguing the South East, while on the other hand, holding Kanu behind the bars against the wishes of the people.

The stakeholders including representatives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Igbo Think Tank, Igbo Women Assembly, the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, His Grace, Most Reverend Dr M. Ukpong; among others, therefore, urged the Federal Government to heed the growing clamour for Kanu’s release.

According to them, Kanu’s release should be considered a vital step towards national cohesion and restoring the confidence of Ndigbo to the government at the centre.

In a 10-point communique read by Archbishop Nwobia, the conference strongly condemned the rising tide of insecurity in Igboland and tasked the federal government, South East Governors and security agencies “to quickly rise to the occasion and stop the wanton destruction of lives and property”.

The Conference also recommended “the creation of effective indigenous vigilante outfits to take control of security in the communities alongside community policing arrangements.”

“Traditional Leaders should live above board and demonstrate unflinching commitment to the security of their people and communities”, it read.

The communique which was signed by former Commissioner for Information, Ebonyi State, Chief Abia Onyeike; and Comrade Godson Ibekwe-Umelo, also
appealed to South East Governors “to quickly address the high rate of youth unemployment in their states”, contending that youth restiveness and accumulated grievances also contribute to the rising insecurity in the region.

It also frowned at what it called “the ignoble activities of some hired operatives acting in collusion with some vested interests/ highly placed Nigerians who allegedly sponsor violent activities in the South-East for pecuniary reasons”.

The conference called on the security agencies to expose such persons.

The conference called on the Judiciary “to arrest the impending collapse of the Criminal Justice System in Nigeria as criminal elements in society are no longer diligently prosecuted.”

It expressed serious concern that Igbo language could soon go into extinction following the lack of interest in the language by the young generation.

The communique enjoined various levels of government in Igboland, “to promote the teaching and learning of Igbo Language in schools by making Igbo Language a compulsory subject in the school curriculum.”

“Families and Churches in Igboland are to take up their responsibilities seriously in this regard to ensure that the Igbo language does not go into extinction. Children must be sufficiently introduced and exposed to Igbo language as a matter of priority before other languages while Churches are expected to conduct services in Igbo language or at least provide for Igbo interpreters where and when necessary”, it read.

The Conference further recommended that Governments in Igboland should embrace Science and Technology in their development agenda and policies.

This, according to the stakeholders, will lead to rapid development “and help to overcome the tyranny of poverty in the region.”

The conference challenged the Igbo political class to review their operations as elected leaders of the people, and commit to genuine empowerment of youths, “instead of the current trend where they are used as thugs during elections and abandoned thereafter.”

The conference also called for the revival of Igbo apprenticeship system to stem the rising cases of betrayal in the Igbo business guild system.

It recommended that “Traditional Rulers in Igboland should play a role in the sustenance of the system.”

Earlier in a remark, the National President of Igbo Women Assembly (IWA), Lolo Nneka Chimezie, blamed the renewed agitation for self determination especially by Igbo youths on the sustained marginalisation against the tribe by the Nigerian state.

She called on Ndigbo to be united, stressing that it will difficult to break their ranks and undermine their interest if they are united.

Lolo Chimezie who regretted that Igbo socio-cultural groups including Ohanaeze, Town Union Executives and even the once-revered traditional institution, had become political platforms, urged them to place Igbo interest above personal gains.

The IWA President decried migration of youths from South East in search of greener pastures, and called for a reversal of the ugly trend.

Lolo Chimezie who said about 80% of Ndigbo live outside South East, expressed worry that Ala Igbo could be overrun by strangers in the near future if the trend were not halted.

She called on Ndigbo to begin to invest in Igbo land to avoid loosing their labour to strangers particularly as Igbo investments outside Igbo land had become the target of their enemies even without any provocation.

The IWA President begged South East Governors to assist Igbo women to embark on mechanised farming, arguing that they are resilient enough to feed the entire region if supported.

” We need tractors to go into commercial fishing”, she cried out, claiming that Igbo women are more powerful than their men as was demonstrated during the great Aba women riot.

She accused Britain of complicity in the current ordeals of Ndigbo in Nigeria as a punishment for their patriotic role during the struggles for independence from colonial masters.

Lolo Chimezie urged Ndigbo to be proud of their language and culture and hold on to them wherever they live, arguing that they are not inferior.

“We are not the only people that move around the world. Hausa also move around. They live in Southeast. But you see that they have a way of sticking together and maintaining their cultural background. And they have their school, the Almajiri school, where they inculcate their culture and tradition in their children but don’t have such things.”

Speaking also, the Publicity Secretary of Indigenous Igbo Congress, Rivers State, Chief Ajuruchi Ogondah Ihunwo from Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, said that Ndigbo in Rivers (Igwe Ocha), would never deny their Igbo identity.

He accused the political class of colluding with the enemies to divide Ndigbo for their selfish interests.

Ogondah commended Archbishop Nwobia and all those behind Igwebuike Ndigbo socio-cultural organization, describing it as credible platform for Igbo unity and advancement.

Later in an interview, the facilitator of the group, Archbishop Nwobia, said the conference was convened to enable Ndigbo forge a united front and speak with one voice.

Hie said:”Observing the situation we have found ourselves as Igbo nation, we decided to convene an organization that will develop a synergy and collaboration with all the other organizations, emphasizing our Igbo cultures and values

“We want to emphasize security in Igbo land. Because if the Igbo nation is not secured, there is no way business people can thrive. The government will be wasting their time and energy running around the globe looking for investors.They first of all should create enabling environment which starts with security and energy.

“We want the government to see us as independent people that are not political opponents, but partners in what they are doing.

Some of the delegates included the Chairman Board and Trustees of Igbo Think Tank, Professor Madubike Ezeibe; Leader of South East Solidarity Front, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere; HRM Eze John Ibezim of Ibeku, vigilante leaders, among others.

 

Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.

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