Fresh concerns as 52groups meet over kanu,IPOB

 Following allegations that federal government's continuous detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), suggests a deliberate scheme to subdue the people of the former eastern region, about 52 groups met in Enugu this Friday and threatened to join IPOB. Sam Egburonu highlights some of the views of the participants in the tension-soaked meeting THERE are fresh concerns following unending agitation of numerous groups protesting continuous detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of Nigeria. Just this weekend, about 52 of such groups from the South-East and South-South threatened to merge with IPOB, if Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not released unconditionally, in obedience to a High Court ruling in December 2015 ordering his unconditional release. The about 52 groups which met in Enugu at the weekend, under the chairmanship of Bishop Micheal Ibeneme met at the residence of Chief (Mrs.) Maria Okwor in Independence Layout Enugu. This would be their third meeting in recent months. The groups comprising of Christian religious bodies, students associations, town unions, age grades, traders associations, women's groups, youth organisations and elders council deliberated for several hours over the weekend on the state of the nation and concluded that the federal government is steadily making it difficult for the country to remain one, through its brazen, oppressive and determined effort to strike fear into the hearts of citizens in order to foist a fascist reign of ethnic, regional and religious dominance of one region over another." They therefore vowed to resist what they described as "an unholy agenda as "capitulation to the agenda would mean sentencing our progeny to a permanent status of serfs, everything is being done to rub in that we are not part of Nigeria. Buhari is deliberately pushing us out of Nigeria," they alleged. The meeting, which also had in attendance over a dozen groups from the Niger Delta, also said "the delay to redesign Nigeria to six regions is the source of 99% of the problems afflicting the nation today." In a two point communiqué, the groups declared that six regional structures remains the only formula to salvage, and rebuild Nigeria, noting that "those opposed to six regional structures were only working towards the eventual disintegration of the country. They said that all political, economic and social indicators pointed to the self-evident truth that only an early reversal to the six-regional structure will save the country now." The groups also condemned in no uncertain terms the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu after two courts of the land granted him unconditional release, maintaining that "the over-ruling of the courts, by Mr. President in a television chat with journalists pointed to an unacceptable travesty, where the presidency takes final decision on matters properly handled by the judiciary. Therefore, continued the groups "we are giving notice to the world, that if the unjust, provocative and very divisive detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not specially looked into for the sake of peace, equity and justice, we may no longer restrain our members, affiliates, friends and sister groups who have indicated their resolve to join and merge with the IPOB in solidarity with their persecution and unjust detention of their leader. Pursuit of self-determination is the inalienable right of all oppressed people the world over as endorsed by the United Nations Chatter on Freedom," they said. The group also said: "We are being forced and pressured by the uncompromising attitude of the oppressor to defend and protect the future of our progeny. The current master/servant relationship as typified by the unworkable, military constitution is suffocating us. Enough is enough". According to a statement from the groups, Comrade Chimezie Ubani, President of Igbo Student Union said "We pleaded for restructure, they refused, we pleaded for a referendum, they said no; they treat us like slaves, Fulani herdsmen raping our women, killing our farmers, abducting our priests, all the 54 tertiary institutions in the east have resolved to join the IPOB to turn it to the largest mass movement in the world. We have come to the point where Mr. President must know that he just cannot continue detaining an innocent man. We have already printed our ID cards, from now henceforth, we are all IPOB". Lady Ifeoma Nwankwo, chairperson of the Onitsha Fish Dealers Association complained "631 IPOB members have been slaughtered by the federal government this year alone, some kidnapped in hospitals and killed, it is unacceptable. Mazi Chidiebere Onwudiwe was kidnapped by the DSS in June, with a laughable allegation of planning to bomb churches and computer village heaped on him by the DSS, for four months, they have held him incommunicado without charging him to court. What do you call this if not fascism; a mixture of Hitler and Idi Amin in the making? Subjugation through reign of terror? We are all IPOB henceforth". Chief Chris Obikwelu, Chairman of Igbo Traders Association, said "if Kanu is not released this month, every trader will now go about with IPOB ID card; its one year now since they locked up an innocent man; they are indirectly telling us that we are nothing, that we are inconsequential, that they can treat us anyhow they like, we are tired of the oppression." Bishop Michael Ibeneme, who chaired the meeting, said "Every effort to resolve the structural defects in this country is being rebuffed by people who love to ride on the back of others, people whose world view is that of subjugating others to slavery and eternal domination. They are pushing us to the wall; they are doing all they can to provoke us to action. We call on Mr. President to release Nnamdi Kanu and reduce the anger and bitterness in the land. Those advising otherwise do not wish him well". Chief Maria Okwor added "Only a return to the six regions will save Nigeria. Everybody knows it, delay is unhelpful". Evang. Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, founder of Igbo Youth Movement and Deputy Secretary of Igbo Leaders of Thought, explained "This is our third meeting and I can tell you, there is a pervasive feeling that Abuja might not fully be aware of the anger in the land. It is possible those around the seat of power are lying to Mr. President, possibly in the hope of shielding the truth from him. If he knew the degree of bitterness in the hearts of millions of citizens, he would have released Nnamdi Kanu long ago. His continuous detention is fueling division in the land. It is the oxygen mobilizing millions of aggrieved youths, the foreboding is dangerous". He told The Nation that the meeting was further adjourned till the first week of November. Groups which attended the meeting include, Igbo Women Assembly, Igbo Youth Movement, South East Christian Network, Igbo Traders Association, Igbo Students Union, CAN, PFN, Umuada Alaigbo, World Igbo Congress, Niger Delta Youth Forum, South-East Professionals, Igbo in Academia, Eastern Nigerian Congress, South-South Youth Congress and Igbo Diaspora Organisation. Others are Umuigbo United Front, South-South/South-East Coalition, Traditional Healers Union, United Road Workers Union and Food Stuff Dealers Association, etc  

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