The apex Igbo sociocultural-political group,Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has again appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to release the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from detention ahead of May 29 hand – over.
The new president of the group, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, made the appeal on Thursday at the flag-off of the pre-dredging and hydrographic survey of the proposed sea access route of the Urashi-Oguta waterways through Degema to the Atlantic Ocean.
Speaking at the ceremony which was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Iwuanyawu who described President Buhari as an Igbo son, said that the 60 – million Igbo people of Nigeria would remain eternally grateful to him if he could set free the detained secessionist leader before May 29.
He also used the opportunity to dismiss claims that the Igbos were eager to break away from Nigeria, wondering why the ethnic group having heavily invested in many parts of the country over the years, would abandon such huge investments to others in the name of secession.
Chief Iwuanyanwu asked Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to convey the Igbos’ request to Mr. President even as he lauded Buhari for his love for the South-East which is reflected in the number of Federal Government projects in the zone.
He said, “Please, finally, our vice president, tell our brother and son, Buhari, that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo – the over 60 million Igbos – request that he should release Nnamdi Kanu.
“The President Buhari should do it before he departs office on May 29th, 2023, the Igbo nation will be very grateful” if it is done.
“Igbos are not seceding. I don’t see why anybody will say Igbos are seceding. Igbos are everywhere. We have investments. Are we going to leave our investments?
“I would like the vice president, when you go, tell Buhari we are very grateful. When he took office we were not happy, we complained. But today, at the point of departure, things have changed. I can see that in most states a lot has been done. Here in Imo state, a lot has been done for us. So, I would like you to tell our son, Buhari, that we are very grateful. And I want Buhari to realize that he is an Igbo son, an honorary Igbo man.
“He has been honoured by some Igbo states. I think Imo State has honoured him, and Ebonyi has honoured him. Chieftancy title in Igbo land is taken very seriously. You have to help us tell Buhari that he is an Igbo son, he is a member of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo by this honour given to him and what I am speaking here today, I am also speaking on his behalf.”
