Victor Ezeja
SOUTHEAST legislators have resolved to intervene in the case of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who has been kept in detention by the Department of State Services (DSS), in Abuja since his arrest in Kenya in June.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of an extraordinary meeting of the Southeast Caucus of the National Assembly held on Wednesday at Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.
Join our WhatsApp Channel
The nine-point communique signed by all members of the South-East Caucus of National Assembly was read by former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ikekweremadu whose residence the meeting was held.
The group during the meeting reviewed developments in the Southeast, particularly the security situation, the sit-at-home orders by IPOB in the region and Kanu’s detention.
The caucus resolved to set up a committee to “constructively interface with relevant stakeholders, the Federal Government and its relevant agencies towards finding a political solution” to Kanu’s detention.
They expressed solidarity with the people of the Southeast in their daily struggle with the realities of the Nigerian government system, promising to continue fighting for a level-playing ground conducive for the progress of the people.
On the sit-at-home order by IPOB, the group alleged that some criminal elements in the society high-jacked the exercise to cause mayhem on people and also decried the level of economic loss by people due to the shutdown of socioeconomic activities in the region since it began.
The caucus condemned the attack and disruption of secondary school students taking the English language examination organised by the West African Examination Council on Monday this week, adding that such attitude is not what Igbo people are known for.
The group equally condemned in strongest terms the incessant killings in different states across the Southeast and called on security agencies “to unravel the culprits behind these wicked acts and ensure that they are brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.”
The Caucus expressed delight over the suspension of the sit-at-home border in the region, by IPOB so that nobody would use them as a “facade” to cause violence in the land while urging the people to go about their lawful businesses without fear.
“We appeal to our people not to allow anyone to destroy the South East region. The post-war South-East was not built through government patronage, but largely by sheer determination and sacrifices of our people, who refused to resign to fate or bow their heads in defeat. Therefore, as a people, we cannot begin to undermine ourselves or become our own nemesis.
“We must also always bear in mind that our people thrive on the industry, commerce, and the informal sector. Importantly, most of our people depend on daily income.
“Therefore, while we must fight for our rights and legitimately express our displeasures over every form of mistreatment, injustice, and inequity, we certainly cannot afford to be the proverbial lizard that ruined his mother’s funeral.
“Anything that threatens Igbo businesses, the peace, security, and stability of the South East threaten our very existence as a people. Consequently, bearing in mind that if we allow cracks in the wall, lizards will invade our home, we must all pull together as one people to discourage and resist any tendencies and actions, within or without, which pollute our business environments or encourages anarchy and instability in our region.”
The caucus said it would collaborate with other “patriotic Nigerians across regional, religious, political, and ethnic divides to reconstruct a federal system where our rights, happiness, and prosperity and those of our unborn generations are guaranteed.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
