Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
As President Muhammadu Buhari visits Ebonyi State, South-East Nigeria tomorrow, a pro-Biafra group, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), has demanded the immediate release of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
MASSOB also made a demand for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2023.
Both MASSOB and IPOB are seeking the carving out of an independent state of Biafra from the region’s five states and some parts of South-south region of the country.
Kanu was arrested in June 2021 and charged to court on allegations of terrorism and treasonable felony, allegations he has continued to deny.
While he remains in detention, the region has witnessed increasing and regular attacks on security agencies, government facilities and high-profile individuals following his arrest last year.
Comrade Uchenna Madu, Leader of MASSOB enumerated the group’s demand for Kanu’s release in a statement on Wednesday.
While noting that MASSOB is not against the President’s visit to the region, the Group’s Leader said, “the release of Mr Kanu will douse tension in the region.
“As President Muhammadu Buhari visit Ebonyi state, MASSOB remind Mr. President that only the release of IPOB leader will douse tension in the zone as well as restore peaceful atmosphere to the entire country.
“MASSOB also remind President Muhammadu Buhari that continuous detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in DSS custody will only worsen the security challenges facing the country, it will also continue to affect the economy.”
Mr. Madu also said a president of Igbo extraction to succeed the President will help to diffuse already bottled anger which is fuelling the agitations across the region.
“MASSOB will not be against the visit of President Buhari to Ebonyi state. We are making these two major demands as part of our own contribution to peace as being clamoured by well meaning citizens
“MASSOB requests from President Muhammadu Buhari to facilitate and ensure that one of the many South-East presidential aspirants succeeds him in 2023, to help the country diffuse many bottled up anger which has fuelled agitations,” Mr. Madu said.
Meanwhile, President Buhari will commission numerous projects executed by the Governor David Umahi administration.
Umahi in a welcome message said the president would be in the state for two days, Thursday and Friday.
“We feel deeply honoured as this Presidential visit shall offer us opportunities to showcase for commissioning, some of the life-transforming projects executed under our Divine Mandate administration.
“The projects include King David University of Medical Sciences & King David University Twin Flyover, Margaret Umahi International Market, International Market Ring Road, International Market Twin Flyover.
“Others are the Uburu-Mpu dualized concrete road, President Muhammadu Buhari 4-way Light Tunnel, State Shopping Mall, New Government House, new Governor’s Office and new State Executivw council Chambers.
“We acknowledge with the deepest appreciation, your fatherly love and support to Ebonyi State like you do extend to other states irrespective of their party affiliations and which has made our modest achievements possible,” Umahi said.
