The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), the apex youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged the Nigerian Government to thread with caution over the trial of the Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB).
Speaking with newsmen in a press conference held at Ikoyi, Lagos State after an exclusive interview with BBC Igbo at her national headquarter on Thursday 23rd July 2021, the National President of the Council, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka noted that from 1967 to 1970 of a genocidal war deliberately executed by the Nigerian Government with the aid of Britain, Russia, France, Germany and United States of America couldn’t silence nor bury the agitation of Biafra.
Anyone or government both at local or international level, thinking that crushing Nnamdi Kanu/IPOB will stop the agitation must be hallucinating.
Comrade Igboayaka advised the Nigerian government that threats of death or imprisoning the agitators cannot quench the call for Biafra restoration, but the only viable means is dialogue and negotiation.
“The call for Nigeria’s unity is only a verbal gesture because the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government since 2015 is practically complimenting the effort of pro-Biafra groups through his pursuit of the Fulani agenda and open marginalization, injustice and killing of IPOB and other self- determination groups in Alaigbo,” he stated.
Comrade Igboayaka call on Igbo leaders, governors and former governors, Senators, Traditional and Religious leaders to rally round Nnamdi Kanu for his safety and use the opportunity of his release to seek for the workable approach for political cum economic survival of Neighbors in Nigeria political project.
“No one throws away a child with the dirty bath of water, and an elder who rescued a perceived stubborn child have paved a new way of reasoning and the need to listen to the elders, therefore Ohanaeze Youth Council-OYC appeal to notable, noble and great men of Igbo extraction to rise up to the occasion and show their fatherly responsibility to save Nnamdi Kanu,” Igboayaka stated.
“Whether wrong or right, anybody thinking that Nnamdi Kanu is standing alone should interview any Igbo youth in all the communities of Igbo extraction, you will be shocked that Igbo youths still believe in Igwe Bu Ike and Onye Aghala Nwanne Ya. This evidential proof is a signal that Nnamdi Kanu could be used by a reasonable government to come into a dialogue or negotiation table, but an unreasonable government will use Nnamdi Kanu’s trial to put Nigeria in a situation more excruciating than 1967-70 experience,” Igboayaka revealed.
He noted that “At the end of every violent method, peaceful strategy is always used to restore peace and unity, advising, President Muhammadu Buhari and his team to quickly make a U-turn to give peaceful approach a chance to address Nnamdi Kanu’s issues, stressing that war failed in 1967-70 to address the Biafra issue.
Also, judiciary approach over the quest for self-determination and Kanu’s trial can’t address the issue rather it will endanger the peace and unity of Nigeria,” Igboayaka concluded.
