From Aloysius Attah, Uturu, Chuks Onuoha, Umuahia, and Okey Sampson, Aba
Prominent Igbo leaders yesterday rose from a three- day World Summit and declared categorically that Biafran agitators constitute no threat to national security.
In a 10-point communiqué presented at Igbo Renaissance Centre, Gregory University, Uturu in Abia State, and signed by Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Col. Joe Achuzie, Dr. Greg Ibeh, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu , Prof. George Obiozor and two others, the Igbo leaders said Igbo people have made the biggest sacrifice and contribution to the building of modern Nigeria.
The Igbo leaders called on the Federal Government to promptly release Nnamdi Kanu and other prisoners of conscience in line with the rule of law.
They insisted that henceforth, the Igbo will work for a nation where they are allowed to live and operate as equal citizens without discrimination or intimidation.
While calling for a regional autonomy, the Igbo leaders demanded the repealing of the 1999 Constitution and enacting of a new one that will recognise the inalienable right of each constituent group to self- determination and regional autonomy as enshrined in the 1960 Independence and 1963 Republican Constitutions.
The summit described the herdsmen’ menace as “present and imminent danger to peace and security in Igboland” and called on Igbo governors and state Assemblies to immediately legislate against any form of grazing in Igboland.
The summit also resolved that henceforth, Igbo political leadership, both elected and appointed must act in the best interest of Ndigbo and be prepared to be held accountable by the people for all their actions and inactions.
Earlier, during the opening of the World Igbo Summit, the Director General, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna said the summit was organised to bring together great minds of Igbo land from across the globe to dialogue and present a strategic roadmap for growth and development going forward to herald the 50-year visioning project for the Igbo nation.
Prof George Obiozor, in a remark noted: “Over 40 years of mourning in the Nigerian wilderness is over. We must stop begging to belong to Nigeria, a country our leaders and our people built. Let us learn from the lessons of history that those neglected cannot and should not neglect themselves.”
General Ike Nwachukwu (retd) in his comment said Ndigbo can no longer accept any form of subjugation or becoming a footstool for anybody or region.
Other prominent Igbo that attended the summit included Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Prof. Pat Utomi, Prof Ephipany Azinge, Joe Irukwu , Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Iyom Josephine Anenih among others.
Meanwhile, youths from the core Niger Delta states under the aegis of Afra Descendants Movement (ADM) have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally. They said the president has a moral burden in continuing to incarcerate Kanu.
Speaking after a one day meeting at Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State, the leader of ADM, Apostle Lanada M. Jene said it was morally wrong for anybody who had participated in a coup or was a beneficiary of a coup plot which is a treasonable offence to continue to incarcerate Kanu over a purported treasonable felony.
The ADM leader said whether the Federal Government releases the IPOB leader or not, the greatest thing they could hand over to Kanu was to continue to fight until Biafra was actualised.
He stressed that for this to be done, his members have decided to be mentally prepared for the victimisation that would come from the Nigerian government, stating that in so doing, it would be illogical for him to start speculating on what to do next if Nnamdi was not released, but emphasised on the commitment to ensuring that Biafra was actualised.
