From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Igbo think-tank, Alaigbo Development Foundation, has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The President of the foundation, Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie who made the call in a press conference held in Enugu On Sunday after the inaugural executive meeting of the group.
Awuzie said that Kanu’s demand for self-determination constitutes the fundamental rights enshrined in in the United Nation’s Charter for Human Rights as well as the African Charter for Human and People’s Rights.
He noted that Kanu’s continued incarceration is more worrisome as Boko Haram fighters who have taken up arms against the nation were being released and reintegrated into the society even to the point of being conscripted into the nation’s security architecture.
“The ADF calls for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB).
“The struggles for self-determination embarked upon by Kanu and his supporters are popular democratic agitations and constitute the fundamental rights enshrined in the United Nations Charter for Human Rights as well as the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
“Kanu’s continued incarceration constitutes a spite on social justice and an infringement on his fundamental rights to self expression, especially when viewed against the Federal Government’s attitude of allowing those who had taken up arms against the state to be released, rehabilitated and even reintegrated into the Nation’s security architecture.
The former Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) president said that the vision of ADF is geared towards building a strong and virile organization of Igbo Intelligentsia that is ready and willing to defend the cause of Igbo liberation from marginalization, oppression and under-development.
He called on South East Governors to come together to develop a comprehensive development plan for the Igbo nation as, “It is one sure way of harnessing our abundant human and material resources for the attainment of food security.
“The time has come for Ndigbo to create master-plans for infrastructural development of their region with a solid rail system to link all the major industrial, commercial and administrative hubs in Alaigbo,” he said.
Awuzie added that the new executive is committed to an ADF that pursues the dreams and aspirations of Ndigbo within the Nigerian federation and one that is equally focused on our self-determination in Nigeria.