APC chieftain , Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has joined other leaders of the Southeast to appeal for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Proscribed Indigenous peoples of Biafra(IPOB).
The party chief who made the appeal in a statement signed by him, urged the Buhari-led administration to listen to the several pleas to free Kanu by the Southeast elders.
“As elders have requested, release Mazi Kanu to them and let us see if peace can be restored to this region and if peace is not restored then the challenge becomes that of our Elders and leaders”, he pleaded.
Eze said he was moved to tears by the pleas of some elders like 93-year-old Chief Mbazulukike Amechi, who told the president not to allow him die without witnessing peace in the Southeast.
“93 year old, Chief Mbazulukike Amechi one of Nigeria living legends, former Minister of Aviation and Transportation in the first Republic, a member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens in 1959, spoke in Abakaliki during the Southeast stakeholders meeting with President Buhari who was on a two-day working visit to Ebonyi State.
“This statesman pointedly told Buhari “I want to see peace in this country before I join my ancestors, I want to see peace in the Southeast, particularly where there is an upsurge of crisis and something that will lead to that peace is around the corner and we are asking you to give me the mandate and I will give you peace. I guarantee you this Mr. President. We say in Igbo land that a madman is owned by his people. If somebody was mad yesterday, and on the guarantee of elders like me and other elders, I will bring him out and that is to get peace, help us to get the peace and I will give you peace in this part of this country and also in Nigeria because I am a Nigerian, I took part in the struggle for the independence of this country.
“In the same vein, the Chairman of the Southeast Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Charles Mkpuma, pleaded for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the prescribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
”He told Mr. President, ” we stand by you in all efforts towards the fight against insecurity in the Southeast and the country in general. We, however, plead with you as a compassionate father to temper justice with mercy in the case of your son, Nnamdi Kanu.
” We have started a dialogue to ensure that all those who feel aggrieved are brought to a round table discussion.
“After going through these pleas by this elderly statesman coupled with the Chairman of the South East Traditional Rulers Council to President Buhari, I wept seeing the sad state of the south East region where our people are being slaughtered like chickens on daily basis by the so called unknown gun men and the economy of the region at the verge of total collapse because of the unnecessary Monday Sit-at-home. This month of May that has 32days those in the South East have only nine days to carry out their business activities and most of these days our children are kept at home.
“This week alone from Monday to Friday has been declared Sit-at-home week thereby keeping everybody at home with little or no movement in all parts of the five States of the region. It is reported that all the major towns and roads were deserted that one may think that those living in this part of the country have all ran away. What other punishment do we have to go through than this.
“As I continued in my weeping, Governor Umahi came to my aid and restored hope by reassuring us all that President Muhammadu Buhari is not avarice to the release of Mazi Kalu or restoring peace to South East.
“According to the Chairman of South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, “We wished that it should be solved and that’s why I went to Mr President. And our leader, Chief Mbazuluike Amechi, has also gone to the President and he agreed for a political solution, but it should be us that should initiate it.
“And I am asking Ambassador Obiozor (Ohanaeze President), he is very slow about this because I had gone to the DG DSS. I had gone to the Attorney-General of the Federation and they were ready to receive them to discuss. I had excluded myself so that politics is not by any means adduced to it.
“So, we should be encouraging the president of Ohanaeze to work with the IPOB leader as Mr President suggested and then let them, you know, bring something before the Federal Government and say, ‘These are what we are bringing on board.’ I think that the President is not averse to that.
“The governor, who said he foresaw the growing insecurity in the South East, reiterated that that was why his government opposed the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) from the onset.
“He, however, said many people misunderstood him and “jumped into and used it for politics”. Umahi lamented that the situation is now “a pain in everybody’s eye” in the region”.
