On Monday, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) advised President Muhammadu Buhari against releasing leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.
The President had promised to consider releasing Kanu during a visit by Southeast elders, led by First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi.
“The demand you made is heavy. I will consider it,” the president said.
NEF said President Buhari should rather allow Kanu’s trial to run its course.
The IPOB leader is on trial on terrorism and treasonable felony charges before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Reacting, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide urged the president to ignore NEF’s advice.
Also yesterday, a former Abia State governor, now Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu, said he met with Kanu and cautioned him on his utterances and actions because of the consequences they have on his people.
NEF, in a statement by the Director of Publicity, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said there was no basis for President Buhari to grant the Southeast elders’ request.
The statement reads: “Northern Elders Forum has carefully studied the request of Igbo Elders for President Buhari to terminate the trial of Nnamdi Kanu and release him unconditionally.
“It has also noted President Buhari’s response which both raised very weighty issues related to the request, and his commitment to consider it.
“The Forum notes that there are no safe, constructive or informed grounds for granting the request.
“It advises that President Buhari will do serious injury to a country already threatened by multiple challenges to its security and territorial integrity if he delays announcing the only responsible response, which is that the judicial process in the case of Kanu must be allowed to run its course.”
Ohanaeze disagrees with NEF
Ohanaeze Ndigbo believes that a political solution is the best way to handle the Kanu matter.
Its spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia, told The Nation: “The issues we have in the Southeast and some other parts of the country are the problems that need dialogue and political solution, especially that of Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB.
“The earlier Nigerians understand it the better. What Ohanaeze is saying is something that can help solve the problem.”
The group urged NEF not to think the security challenges in the Southeast affect the Ndigbo alone.
Ohanaeze called on President Buhari to go ahead with the promise he made to the leaders of Southeast over Kanu’s release.
“Some people are being myopic in thinking that this problem is that of Southeast alone. No. Any problem in any other part of the country affects every other part whether you appreciate it or not.
“So, we’re calling on the father of the nation, President Muhammadu Buhari, not to relent on the political option for the release of the leader of the IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” Ogbonnia said.
NEF warns against fuel price hike
NEF, in the statement, sought clarifications regarding the naming of bandits as terrorists and warned against increasing pump price.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari said last week that petrol will sell between N320 and N340 per litre from February.
The Northern elders said: “The Forum noted a judicial decision to label bandits and kidnappers as terrorists, and recommends greater clarity in terms of the targets of this development.
“In any event, the Forum cautions against profiling and targeting all Fulani as terrorists. Millions of law-abiding Fulani exist who should be encouraged to stay on the side of the law, while those who have chosen to continue on the path of criminality should feel the full weight of the law.
“The Forum invites attention to the hardship under which the vast majority of the population lives.
“Increasing poverty levels and widespread insecurity demand that leaders should exercise extreme caution in taking economic and security-related decisions.
“Increase in the price of fuel, in particular, will compound the already desperate condition of living of most Nigerians.
“It is important that decisions on this matter include considerations of the interests of the national economy, welfare of the citizen and reactions of a hard-pressed citizenry.”
