The apex youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide- Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC)- has described calls by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum led by Shettima Yerima against the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as unpatriotic and against the peace and unity of Nigeria.
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum had recently kicked against the call for the release of the detained IPOB leader.
The National President of Ohaneze Youth Council, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka who spoke to newsmen in Owerri, Imo state capital,accused the ACF leader of compromising the peace of Nigeria through his words, stressing that he has been bought over by both local and international enemies of Nigeria.
His words: “Shettima’s statement is anti-peace. He must be collaborating with secret agents of those whose desire is for economy gain, to supply weapons to Nigeria, and to attract the repeat of 1967/1970.
“If Shettima can go back to the history, he would recall that it was when a political solution failed between Gen. Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu and Gen. Gowon that Nigeria was plunged into a civil war, that took Nigeria 50 years back in political cum economic development”
“Shettima’s questioning and rejecting the visit and demand of Igbo leaders to President Muhammadu Buhari for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, shows that he is not only un patriotic but immature on crisis management.
“It’s important to note that in this era, anyone that is qualified to lead an ethnic group in Nigeria, must be a master in crisis management, peace and conflict resolution.
“Unfortunately Shettima lacks broad intelligence.The case of Nnamdi Kanu is not just between him and the Federal government, but it’s actually a case between Ndigbo, the largest tribe in Africa and the Federal government. That is why people with sense of history opted for a political solution of the matter.
“Shettima lacks the knowledge that Ndigbo controls 80% of the markets in all the 36 states of Nigeria, including Abuja. if Ndigbo rise and decide to embark on a “Sit-At-Home “protest in all the Markets in Nigeria, the country wouldn’t just be a ghost-country but billions of naira will be lost within one day or two days of such mass protest of Ndigbo in Nigeria
“Marginalization and injustice against Ndigbo is empirical evidence since the end of Nigeria Biafra civil war, and this is what led to resurrection of the Biafra agitation.
“Therefore, Ohanaeze Youth Council, IPOB, other Pro-Biafra groups and Ndigbo at large wouldn’t accept or tolerate any plot to have Nnamdi Kanu jailed or remain in detention. It will escalate the problem and will lead to emergence of many radical groups and millions of radical Biafra activists more dogged than Nnamdi Kanu.
“At this Juncture, what is is left for Arewa Youth Consultative Forum led by Shettima Yerima and other reasonable patriotic Nigerians is to intensify campaign and demand for a quick political solution of Nnamdi Kanu’s matter, and implore dialogue and negotiation as a modern tool of settling agitation for self-determination” Igboayaka concluded.
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