From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has urged President Bola Tinubu to free Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Ag. National Youth Leader, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, said already they had commenced collaboration with relevant authorities to expedite Kanu’s release.
“We are collaborating with relevant authorities to secure the freedom of as many of these youths that are innocent, while we also urge His Excellency President Bola Tinubu, in tandem with his resolve to completely heal Nigeria of the wounds of the Civil War, to deploy his Constitutional powers towards facilitating the release of our brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We also wish to reiterate our appeal to Igbo youths to maintain the peace and resist attempts by subversive elements to indoctrinate them into violent and destructive actions against the Motherland.
Meanwhile, Okpalaezeukwu, said a funeral planning committee had been set up to celebrate the legacies of the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu who died while in office as the President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group.
He said the initiative was to recognise, not just Iwuanyanwu’s far-reaching developmental and progressive strides in over six decades of his active service to Igbo land and Nigeria at large; but his contributions to the formation, sustainability and growth of the apex Igbo socio-political organisation.
He commended the late elder statesman for his personal investments to stabilise the leadership of the youth wing.
He noted that they were in constant communication with Iwuanyanwu’s family and were determined, to accord him the highest honour deserving of his service to Nigeria.
He stated that recognising the late Iwuanyanwu was aimed at immortalising him and sustaining his enviable legacies.
“On this note, we have set up a funeral planning committee for the purpose of celebrating his legacies, especially, in the lives of the youths. We shall continue to update the public on this, as we progress.
“We have also initiated moves to collaborate with relevant authorities towards securing lasting peace, security and economic stability in the Southeast.
“We wish to use this medium to reiterate our appeal for speedy review and dispensation of justice to thousands of Igbo youths who are held in various detention facilities across the country as waiting Trial Inmates.”