A non-partisan caucus of federal lawmakers from the Southeast on Wednesday has agreed to help secure the release of detained leader of the separatists’ group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
The caucus of Igbo lawmakers reached the decision to intervene and secure Kanu’s release from detention at the end of a closed-door meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
Addressing reporters, leader of the group and former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, said the caucus of Southeast federal lawmakers has resolved to set up a committee that will interface with the Federal Government and its relevant agencies to find “a political solution” in exchange for Kanu’s freedom.
Kanu was rearrested in June by Interpol and handed over to Nigerian authorities after jumping bail in 2017 and fleeing abroad.
The Caucus expressed solidarity with the people of the Southeast over alleged marginalization within the Nigerian estate and resolved to continue seeking a better arrangement that will guarantee Igbo people to thrive and actualize their potential in any part of the country.
The group, however, condemned in very strong terms acts of violence and incessant killings in the Southeast which it said must stop forthwith.
The group specifically condemned the disruption of the ongoing Senior Secondary Certificate Examination in some parts of the Southeast.
Reviewing the sit-at-home order by the IPOB, the federal lawmakers decried the economic losses and hardship the directive has caused the people; worried that some criminal elements have taken advantage of the situation to unleash mayhem on the people.
The group welcomed the decision by the IPOB to call off its Monday sit-at-home order and appealed to the people of Southeast to eschew violence and join hands with other patriotic citizens in the search for a federal system that guarantees for them a glorious future.
Present at the meeting was the Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe(PDP), Senator Uche Ekwenife, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP), and Chukwuka Utazi (PDP).
Others include Senator Theodore Orji, Deputy Minority leader, HR Tobi Okechukwu, House of Representatives spokesman, Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Chief Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Hon. Obinna Chidioka, Hon. Chinedu Ogar, Hon. Igariwe Iduma.