*As IPOB accuses FG of plan to suffocate Kanu in detention
The Arewa Consultative Forum and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have condemned the killing of unarmed Biafran agitators by security agents and asked the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu, Okechukwu Isiguzoro and other detained MASSOB agitators.
ACF National Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Coommasie made this known in Enugu Sunday while clarifying some of the issues discussed at a joint closed-door meeting of both ACF and Ohanaeze.
“It was a closed door meeting. Despite the fact that we did not make it open, we condemned the killing of the unarmed Biafran agitators and called on the Federal Government to release the detained Biafran agitators from Nnamdi Kanu to Ben Onwuka and to compensate those who lost their lives. We enjoyed our stay in Enugu and Nsukka.
“We are happy that all is well and this is the beginning of greater things to come in Nigeria. If the various groups should be coming together to discuss issues affecting Nigeria, then it will be good for the country,” Coommasie, who was a former Inspector General of Police, IGP, said.
Also, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey, in his comments said: “We think that this kind of joint cooperation will solve some of the problems we keep having from time to time.
“It means that we don’t need to come to the North to address issues; it means that we will contact Arewa to tell them about the problems confronting our people. The major issue is that we are starting on a good note of cooperation that will ensure that we have other good results in the future. These meetings will be very regular.”
Communique
In a communiqué jointly signed by Igariwey and Coommasie, the ACF and Ohanaeze stated, “At the end of our discussion, we have resolved to issue this press statement.
“That the ACF and Ohanaeze Ndigbo reaffirm their belief in the corporate existence of Nigeria with justice, fairness and equity to all.
“We support wholeheartedly, the war against insurgency in the North east and commend the efforts of our gallant soldiers and the encouragement given to them by the Federal Government.
“We extend our condolences to the Federal Government and families of the bereaved and equally sympathise with families of those who lost their lives in the various IDP camps.
“We support the Federal Government’s war on corruption and call on the Federal Government to sustain this effort and call on Nigerians also to cooperate with the Federal Government.
“ACF and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have agreed to meet regularly to discuss the state of the nation and forward our discussion to the Federal Government to aid good and equitable governance.
“We will also continue to meet with our other brothers – the Afenifere, the South-South People’s Assembly, the Itsekiri, the Urhobo and many other socio-cultural groups to promote peaceful coexistence and unity of Nigeria.”
Plans to suffocate Kanu
Also Sunday, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government has through the Kuje prison authorities, continued to deny, intimidate and harass the leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu by denying him toiletries, newspapers and access to food.
IPOB further alleged that the Federal Government wants to suffocate Kanu to death by keeping him in an air-tight room to renounce Biafra.
Addressing newsmen in Nnewi, IPOB Media and Publicity Officer, Mr Emma Powerful said their leader is also denied access to some of his property which the Department of State Services (DSS) is still holding, even when they are not part of the exhibits needed by them to prosecute him.
The group alleged that some of the personal belongings of Mr. Kanu still being held by DSS on the instructions of the APC-led Federal Government are: his clothes, eye glasses, N2,000 pounds, N97,000, his Nigeria and British Passports, wedding ring, pairs of shoes and sandals.
He said the APC government goofed when President Buhari told the world during his first media chat in Nigeria, that Kanu sneaked into Nigeria without any Passport, when the DSS was holding his two International Passports and cash in both Nigeria and British denominations and other personal effects.
“We are telling Nigerians that APC government is a fraud, full of lies and deceit. It will never offer Nigeria anything good. Their anti corruption crusade is a sham because the people that make up the party have a lot of skeletons in their cupboards and their President is shielding them. They should shamelessly release Kanu’s belongings that are not exhibits tendered in the court and stop disgracing Nigeria to the international community,” he said.
He called on Amnesty International, African Union, the United Nations, and the international community that have relationship with Nigeria to prevail on the APC government in Nigeria to stop the denial, intimidation and harassment of Kanu and release him unconditionally because he has not done anything wrong to deserve the alleged ill-treatment being given to him in the Kuje, Abuja prison.
-Vanguard