The highest Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has again reaffirmed demand for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. Kanu is currently serving life jail in Sokoto prison after his conviction for treason.
Speaking on Thursday during Ohanaeze Imeobi and General Assembly at the Ohanaeze National Secretariat in Enugu, the President General, Senator John Azuta-Mbata said it was necessary to inform the government that the entire Igbos were in jail and not just Nnamdi Kanu.
Azuta-Mbata emphasised that the government should not be deceived by those going around promising Igbo votes. He stressed that Nnamdi Kanu should be freed first before anyone would talk about votes.
“I have told the government that Nnamdi Kanu, who is in jail, is the entire Igbo land that is there. No Igbo man is happy that Kanu is in incarceration.
“Let our people stop deceiving the federal government.
“We’re calling on the government of Tinubu to release Kanu. This is the minimal demand of NdiIgbo. Additional state creation is a welcome development. We’re happy that is receiving attention,” he emphasized.
Mbata also condemned the stereotyping of the Igbo people. He, however, urged Ndigbo “to be law-abiding and to be sensitive to the sensibilities of their host communities wherever they may find themselves.
“The diaspora people, your representation matters. Let us, let your actions reflect the values we hold dear in Igbo land. It is wrong for Igbo to go to other people’s homes and behave as if there are no core values that our people prioritise. It is what you have gained from home that you take outside.
“We do not expect our people to go to various parts of the world and become lawless and begin to carry out all kinds of traditional practises that are not acceptable at home.”
The Ohanaeze PG also harped on the importance of the Igbo language and culture, stressing that it was the fabric that binds Ndigbo together.
“Let us promote it in our homes, in our schools, in our communities.
“Our language is our identity. Let us preserve it for prosperity. As you all know, UNESCO published a report not too long ago that the Igbo language is endangered and that the Igbo language is declining.”
He declared that Ohanaeze had risen to the occasion by endowing Professorial chairs of Igbo language and culture at four universities.
“We will do more. We are going to award scholarships for the study of the Igbo language in universities. On our website, we are trying to start schools so that those of our people who are in diaspora, their children can study the Igbo language online on our website,” he further stated.
He charged Igbo politicians to be bold, visionary, and accountable to the people, stressing that the people were watching, and that history and prosperity would judge them by their actions
