Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation has said that the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, must be within the ambit of the laws of the country and in line with global best practices.
This was the main point at the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the body in Enugu yesterday.
The pan-Igbo organisation in a communiqué said it identifies with grievances of the Igbo youths on many issues including marginalisation and menace of Fulani herdsmen.
The six-point document signed by Chief Alex Ogbonnia, its spokesman, and released today reads:
“That Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has observed with keen interest the recent re-arraignment and consequent trial of our son, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“That, in as much as Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not averse to his trial, we however submit that he should be tried within the ambit of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in line with global best practices.
“Ohanaeze strongly support the stand taken by the Southern Governors Forum on anti-open grazing, restructuring, rotation of the President of Nigeria to the South in 2023, and the proposed 5% share of the Petroleum Industries Bill (PIB) for the host communities.
“That we identify with the Igbo youths in their grievances with respect to Igbo marginalisation, the menace of the Fulani herdsmen, etc, however, we do not support the use of any form of violence to redress the relative deprivation and prevailing inequality and injustice across the country.”
To ensure Kanu’s fair trial, Ohanaeze, said that it has constituted a legal team and eminent Igbo leaders to be led by its National Legal Adviser to monitor the proceedings throughout the trial.
It, however, appealed to the Igbo youths to be law-abiding and sheath their sword, and allow their leaders and stakeholders to address those collective grievances through meaningful dialogue and negotiations.
Ohaneze asked Ndigbo, especially the youths to take the ongoing voters’ registration exercise seriously. “This is the only means that guarantees effective participation in Nigerian politics and a sine qua non to achieve our goals and aspirations in the Nigerian project,” it said.