By Tony Adibe
The youths in Igboland have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to pursue lasting peace in the Southeast Zone of Nigeria by applying a “political solution” to the ongoing “judicial drama” that has kept the pro-Biafra agitator, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in “forced detention”.
NewsBits reports that the appeal formed part of the many items contained in the communique issued after the Igbo youth leaders and stakeholders’ convention held on Friday at Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu. The youths, therefore, decided on Saturday to address a press conference on the outcome of their Friday convention at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, GRA, Enugu, NewsBits learnt.
Acting National Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, who read the communique, while flanked by some key officials of the youth body, said the appeal was important because there was no alternative to peace in the Southeast.
“That the President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu should take up the challenge of a quick fix to lasting peace in Igboland by finding a political solution to the ongoing judicial drama that has kept Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in forced detention,” said the Ohanaeze youths.
The Igbo youths also urged Mr. President to open what they regarded as “direct dialogue” with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other pro-Biafra agitators, as this would immediately douse the agitations in Igboland and refocus the youths’ energy within the region towards sustainable national development.
The Ohanaeze youths equally tasked the governors of the South-East on the urgent need to invest more in the provision of sustainable employment for the youth population through training and skill acquisition, as these “will positively engage them and go a long way in mitigating the insecurity in the region.”
According to Okpalaezeukwu, part of the communique also read: “That the continued menace of the atrocities of the Fulani terrorist herdsmen in Igboland should be collectively curbed by the Igbo governors and other political office holders, with a simultaneous aggressive approach to Ranching within the region.
“These Ranching projects should be done with the full engagement and participation of stakeholders from the Igbo communities. In working out the legislative framework to ensure a generally acceptable implementation master plan. That security agencies within Igboland should desist from compromising with anti-social elements, in order to provide the region with the required security for development.”
