Ohanaeze Replies Those Criticizing Nnamdi Kanu
In response to the re-arrested Nnamdi Kanu, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s National Publicity Director, Alex Ogbonnia, has stated that the Igbo socio-cultural group is not silent.
According to Punch on Friday, Ogbonnia stated that the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been meeting over the issue of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, albeit the contents of their deliberations will not be revealed to the public.
Kanu, who is accused of treason, treasonable felony, and terrorism, among other charges, escaped bail and fled Nigeria in 2017.
Recall that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, appointed a 28-member committee comprised of prominent South-West figures to investigate the arrest of Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, and other issues affecting the region.
Some critics lambasted south-eastern politicians for supposedly failing to do enough to support Kanu.
In response, the Ohanaeze spokesperson believes that Igbos are unified.
He said, “The Igbo are meeting, it’s just that we are not publicising it as such. We meet and reach an agreement on steps to take. It was the Igbo elders that met and told Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe to stand as a surety for Nnamdi Kanu when he needed one.
“The Ohanaeze also provided him with legal services when his trial started. To ensure the fair trial of Nnamdi Kanu, we constituted a legal team led by the National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and eminent Igbo leaders to monitor the legal proceedings throughout the trial.”
Ogbonnia continued, “We are not silent on the affairs of Nnamdi Kanu, we have been meeting. Ohaeneze have met, other Igbo elders have also met, so we are not quiet.
“We are a united people. The Igbo are one of the most united tribes in the world. I don’t want anyone to misrepresent the Igbo’s position on Nnamdi Kanu. We have been holding meetings to make sure Nnamdi Kanu is not left as an orphan. We don’t want the matter to appear as if we left Nnamdi Kanu alone. We have been meeting to proffer solutions to the issue.”
