Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Monday, for the umpteenth time, presented the way out to the current restiveness in the South East and part of the country, by urging President Muhammadu Buhari to engage in dialogue with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
But, the process must start with producing the IPOB leader in court on Thursday, October 21, 2021, so that the world would see him physically to ascertain his state of well-being, according to Alex Ogbonna, spokesman of the Igbo socio-cultural association, in a statement, on the heels of the release of amended charges against Kanu, who was arrested and brought back to Nigeria in June this year.
Ogbonnia, said in the statement: “This is necessary to prove to the global community that Nnamdi Kanu is not only hale and hearty, but that a shady judicial process is not contemplated while on trial.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo stands on a firm wicket to proclaim that the agitation and youth restiveness in the Southeast of Nigeria is simply a reaction, or an effect or the consequences of an orchestrated alienation by the federal government over the years.
“The theory of causality quickly reminds us that a phenomenon, or a chain of phenomena contributes to the production of other forms of phenomena: where the cause is partly responsible for the effect.
“On the other hand, not until some of the issues of obvious injustice against the Igbo are seen to be addressed, the chains of catastrophe that threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria may well-nigh be inevitable.
“History shows that it is extremely difficult to have peace amidst injustice. Emphatically, we need not look elsewhere to know that IPOB is simply an exponent of Igbo collective sentiments and predicaments in our tortuous journey and an unquantifiable sacrifice for one Nigeria.”
The statement, which is in line with President General of the body, George Obiozor, who equally called on the Presidency to consider dialogue as a panacea to peace, saying: “Ohanaeze considers the use of dialogue and political solutions as the only workable option open to the Presidency and indeed all men and women of goodwill that desire peace and sustainable growth for Nigeria.”
Latching on this, Ogbonnia, added “Based on the foregoing, the Ohanaeze structures, including the Council of Elders, Council of Traditional Rulers, the Igbo governors, Igbo NASS members, government officials, archbishops and the clergy, stakeholders, youth and women wings, town union, etc are ready for a meaningful dialogue with the federal government of Nigeria on a plethora of challenges facing the Igbo nation and Nigeria.
“Our core objective is a sense of belonging in a country anchored on equity, justice and fairness. Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide enunciates that the guardrail of democracy is anchored on toleration, forbearance and dialogue.
“Good governance is merely an outcome based on the application of the democratic norms and values. And not until the right thing is done and seen to have been done, Nigeria will most likely continue in its downward spiral.
“We urge the leader of Ohanaeze delegation to the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, and our legal team led by the national legal adviser of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Barr Joseph Ojodu, and Barr Goddy Uwazurike, to put in their very best to ensure that Nnamdi Kanu obtains justice.”