From Magnus Eze, Enugu
Igbo youths have appealed to the South East governors, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other leaders of the region to push more and secure the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
This came as the apex Igbo socio-political body, Ohanaeze reiterated its resolve to deploy every diplomatic approach to free the Biafra agitator and return peace to the zone.
The Ohanaeze leadership, at the weekend, visited the deputy speaker and continued other behind-the-scenes moves to secure Kanu’s freedom.
Indications also emerged that the Igbo leaders were pushing for a meeting with President Bola Tinubu to address the Kanu matter and other issues affecting the region, including the growing insecurity. The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) commended the Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu-led body and Kalu, noting that the IPOB leader’s release is long overdue.
President General, COSEYL, Ibem, said nothing short of unconditional release of Kanu, as ordered by the Court of Appeal, would be acceptable. Ibem told Daily Sun, yesterday evening, that Kanu’s release would restore security, viable economic activities, investments and peace in the South East zone. He said some criminal gangs, who had been using his incarceration to cause mayhem in the zone, would be forced out of their illicit activities.
“The issue of agitation all over the world has always been resolved on a roundtable and not by killings or forceful attacks and burning of peoples’ houses and property, as is being witnessed in Okigwe, Imo State, and other parts of the South East.
“IPOB has called for dialogue and roundtable discussion with the Federal Government, and we urge the FG to come to a roundtable with them, so that the issues can be settled. Force, fighting and killings have never served as an answer to peace anywhere in the world. We expect a dialogue, so we can move forward,” the Igbo youth leaders urged.