Northern Elders, ACF, against Nnamdi Kanu’s release, Ohanaeze claims

By FELIX UKAH, Abakaliki

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, has claimed that that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern elders are behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The group noted that they foretold that Nnamdi Kanu will not be released by Federal Government in their 2022 New Year message to Ndigbo, “because of evidence of infighting, misguided assertions, and utterances of the southeastern leaders and IPOB”.

A press release issued by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide on Thursday stated that:

“We keep warning about the approach, missteps, assertions and infighting in the camp of IPOB and amongst Igbo leadership will derail the proposed release of Nnamdi Kanu through diplomatic efforts, those dispatched to initiate the procedure of the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu changed course and seized the opportunity of being saddled with the burden and responsibilities for their immediate considerations and gains”.

“The Arewa Consultative Forum and Northern Elders Forum are behind President Buhari’s refusal to grant Nnamdi Kanu a political solution with intend to disorganize and put the southeast in blazes ahead of the 2023 Presidency, Nnamdi Kanu’s trials will bring the untold tragedy of tensions and disastrous violence to the southeast, we have instructed Ndigbo that 2022 will be a tougher year than the previous year for the southeast but the natural forces will turn out to favour Ndigbo and make them triumph in the face of this disaster,” he said.

He added: “There is always a silver lining in every thunderstorm, there’s a lot of opportunities in every crisis, the incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu will bring good tidings for the southeast and prepare him to step into the shoes of the next leader of Ndigbo.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo uses this medium to notify President Buhari that the issue of state creation has been decided and will be presented to the president through the official channels.” (Daily Independent)