20th October, 2021
By Peter Okolie/Owerri
Igbo monarchs have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to de-proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation, as well as release Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
The call comes a day before the resumed trial of Kanu in Abuja for an amended seven-count charge of treasonable felony.
The monarchs made their stand known under the auspices of the South East Traditional Rulers council.
The body issued a statement Tuesday night, signed by five state chairmen of traditional rulers.
Eze Joseph Nwabeke, signed for Abia; Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, for Anambra; Igwe L.O. Agubuzu for Enugu and Eze E.C. Okeke signed for Imo monarchs.
The traditional rulers said that the appeal became necessary to restore genuine peace and normalcy in the South-East based on justice, equity, fairness, love, mutual understanding and respect.
They urged the IPOB and its affiliate units to immediately stop all provocative rhetorics and actions that promoted violence, fear and unlawful acts.
“As part of creating the enabling environment for reconciliation and peace building, the ongoing sit-at-home on Mondays or any other day in the South-East should end forthwith,” the council pleaded.
“We believe that the dire situation in the country today calls for statesmanship, open and sincere dialogue in the search for compromises, not growing militarisation which may ultimately threaten the very existence of the country,” the monarchs said.
The monarchs also decried the incessant gruesome killings and destruction of property in the zone.
They called for an end to what it called “general atmosphere of fear and progressive militarisation in the geo-political zone“.
“We believe that the dire situation in the country today calls for statesmanship, open and sincere dialogue in the search for compromises, not growing militarisation which may ultimately threaten the very existence of the country,” the monarchs said.
The council called on all disaffected individuals and groups in the zone to sheath their swords and rally together for mutual forgiveness and healing to end the internal strife.
“Cutting our nose to spite our face does not help our present situation; it is senseless to destroy our homeland, or be an accessory to its destruction, in order to prove our marginalisation,” the monarchs stated.