IGBO TRADITIONAL RULERS AND ARCHBISHOPS ASKS FOR KANU’S RELEASE, CESSATION OF SIT AT HOME AND ANAMBRA ELECTION BOYCOTT

Enugu: The South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to release the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) to them, so as to deescalate tension in the region.

The statement issued on Saturday, by the revered Igbo traditional rulers and clergy men read in parts,

“We, the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and
Bishops, note with deep concern the high level of insecurity and socio-economic disruption in the South
East Zone of Nigeria. This has deepened the hardships being faced by the citizens and rendered prostrate
the socio-political and economic lives of our people.

Flowing from similar initiatives taken to bring peace to other troubled parts of the country, we urge the Federal Government and other stakeholders to explore dialogue and negotiation in resolving
critical issues that threaten national unity, cohesion and development.

Accordingly, we refer to our earlier request for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops and restate this call even more strongly. We are of the firm belief that this act of courage and statesmanship is not only imperative but will quickly de-escalate the heightened state of insecurity and dislocation in the South East zone.

We also urge President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and the Federal Government to take immediate steps to de-proscribe the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and release all IPOB members held in various detention facilities in Nigeria”

They also urged IPOB to cancel their scheduled Sit at home and desist from anything that may hinder the conduct of the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship Election,

“Consistent with the above, we urge IPOB not to do anything that would hinder or be seen to be hindering the smooth running of the forthcoming Governorship Election in Anambra State and to cancel all scheduled sit-at-home orders, as these have already caused untold hardship for our people.

Finally, we call on all the candidates in the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship Election to
eschew violence and commit to free, fair and credible election.”

The statement was signed by the following traditional rulers; H.M. Igwe Charles Mkpuma Chairman, Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council & Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers. H.M. Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council , H.M. Igwe Amb L. O. C. Agubuzu, OON Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council ,H.M. Eze Joseph N. Nwabekee, Chairman, Abia State Traditional Rulers Council and H.M. Eze Dr. E. C. Okeke Chairman, Imo State Traditional Rulers Council .

For the clergy,the signatories were; Most Rev. Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzo R. Opoko, TFG, DOB, JP Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia , Most Rev. Dr. Valerian M. Okeke Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha , Most Rev. Dr Uma A. Onwunta , Past Principal Clerk Presbyterian Church Nigeria and Rev. Dr. Abraham Nwali Chairman, CAN, South East