It’s time to engage S’East agitators in dialogue, Umuahia monarchs tell FG

Traditional rulers in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, have advised the Federal Government to engage agitators in South East in genuine dialogue with a view to addressing their genuine demands.

The royal fathers who accused the Federal Government of using brute force against agitators from South East why negotiating with agitators from other geographical zones, said genuine agitation had never been qulled anywhere by coercion.

In a strong-worded statement titled: “The Deliberate Humiliation of Ndigbo”, the royal fathers under the aegis of Umuahia North Council of Traditional Rulers, expressed fury that since about 25 years ago when the renewed wave of agitation for Biafra restoration began, the Federal Government had never considered it wise to engage the agitators in dialogue, instead, it had continued to use force against them.

The statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Council, HRM Eze Innocent Nwaigwe; the Secretary, HRH Eze. C Emelike, among other officials, also demanded the immediate release of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a Prince in the Council.

It read in part:”For 25 years since the agitation began in the South East, no Government has reached out to the agitators to genuinely engage them in a dialogue, to find out why they are pissed off with Nigeria as presently constituted.

“Rather, brute force has been regularly visited on them, to crush them by fire by force. From Bridge Head Onitsha, to Aba High School compound, to St Edmund Catholic Church at Nkpor, to Emene, Obigbo PH etc.Thousands mowed down in cold blood.

“In all these, the agitation has not been crushed since 1999. Not on one occasion has the authorities demanded a genuine tet a tet, to identify the grievances of the agitators and the reason for their agitation. Never.

“Same Government sent Ibe Kachikwu to the Niger Delta to engage the Niger Delta Avengers to a dialogue that brought peace. Same Government despatched Godswill Akpabio to the creeks for a peace meeting with Tompolo, leading to peaceful reconciliation and resolution.

“The reason Igbo agitators and activists for justice and equity must be crushed forcefully, befuddles fair minded citizens. If after 25 years, 1999 till date, isn’t enough time for the realisation that only sincerely engaging the agitators to a dialogue, will bring about resolution and closure, we wonder if another 25 years suffices”

The monarchs further accused those pretending to be working for Kanu’s release to be actually the ones sabotaging genuine efforts to secure his freedom.

“Those blocking direct engagement and dialogue with the agitators for whatever reasons are the ones actually responsible for the crisis in the land.

“Those manipulating the system in order to use the agitators to achieve certain ends, should be warned that karma will soon catch up with them. They pretend they want MNK released, while they are simultaneously working under the table blocking his release.

“This is a warning that their game is no longer secret. They should repent and retrace their steps before nemesis will catch up with them.”

Kanu’s kinsmen mark new yam festival in low-key

Meanwhile, Kanu’s Isiama Afaraukwu Autonomous Community has celebrated this year’s new yam festival in low key to sympathize with the IPOB Leader who has remained incarcerated at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services, DSS, since 2021 when he was extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya.

The traditional ruler of the community, HRH Eze Amaechi Ugwueje, who disclosed this to newsmen in his palace, said the community did not consider it wise to embark on celebration galore while Kanu, a Price in the community is still in detention.

Eze Ugwueje succeeded Kanu’s late father, HRM Eze Israel Kanu who died with the wife after the invasion of his palace by security agencies in 2017.

The family had blamed their death on the trauma of the military raid of the palace.

Eze Ugwueje said that the community “is still in mourning mood” over the continued detention of Kanu who he described as their hero and illustrious son.”

” We cannot be celebrating while our son is langushing in detention”, the monarch groaned.

Kanu has remained in a solitary confinement at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services, DSS, since his extraordinary rendition from Kenya in June 2021.

Despite growing appeals and court judgements including United Nations Opinion for his “immediate and unconditional release”, the Federal Government has refused to let him off the hook.

The monarch said:”Actually , this should be the second year of our community celebrating our annual festival under low key without the usual funfare. My people aren’t happy that thier son who also is a Prince of the community is still in detention.

Eze Ugwueje who regretted that his earlier pleas to former President Muhammadu Buhari to release Kanu were ignored, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to graciously free to IPOB Leader as a sign of his love for Ndigbo.

He said Kanu’s release would help restore peace in the South East.

“I am using this medium in pleading with President Ahmed Tinunbu to consider using his Executive powers in releasing our son to us.”

The traditional ruler, however, thanked those who have been making efforts towards Kanu’s release, and urged them not to relent.

He called on those using Kanu’s continued detention to cause insecurity in the South East to desist from such acts which, he argued, are at variance with Kanu’s value’s.

” I know him very well from his family upbringing, and I know his mind. He is not violent and nobody should create insecurity using his detention as excuse”.

Meanwhile, the monarch who had earlier with his wife and members of cabinet, visited Isiama village at Umuobasiukwu Towm Hall, commended his subjects for their peaceful disposition during the new yam festival.

He said that contrary to some opinions in some quarters, new yam festival is not fetish but a period of gratitude to God for bountiful harvest of yam.

According to the monarch, new yam festival helps to promote unity and culture of the people.