Ohanaeze Ndigbo has come hard at the leadership of the Arewa Youths over their opposition to the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
It was in the aftermath of the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and Igbo elders led by Chief Mbazulike Amaechi. This led the President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, Yerima Shettima, to make a statement that the release of Kanu without being punished would be harmful to Nigeria and the Federal Government.
The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Nnabuike Okwu, accused Shettima of playing politics in a sensitive matter.
Okwu stated that Arewa youths have at no time stood against the release or integration of repentant Boko Haram terrorists, but adamantly against the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu, he noted, is a freedom fighter and is engaging in self-determination which is recognised under international law and conventions. “The Biafra agitation is also undoubtedly being fueled by the ill-treatment of the Igbo in Nigeria, and till this point, there appears to have been no lessons learnt by those benefiting from the unjust nature of the country. “This is why the Arewa youths will talk the way they did. One expects that they should be more concerned with the worsening activities of bandits and Boko Haram, than Nnamdi Kanu.”
President Muhammadu Buhari was urged by the Igbo group to honour the Igbo leaders in line with his promise during the visit.
The group also urged Governors and the South-East caucus of the National Assembly, led by Senator Ike Ekweremadu not to slack on their efforts.
All Igbo, political, religious and traditional leaders were urged to unite to accomplish the goals and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should be of utmost concern.
