Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has reiterated its demand for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (MNK), leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The apex Igbo cultural organisation made the demand on Thursday while addressing the Ohanaeze Imeobi and General Assembly in Enugu.
Speaking, Chief Azuka Mbata, President-General of Ohanaeze, said that the incarceration of Kanu in the Sokoto Correctional Service was being felt by the entire Igbo nation.
Mbata questioned the rationale behind those offering political promises to President Bola Tinubu without recourse to Kanu’s release.
The organisation firmly stated that the release of Kanu remained a prerequisite for any discussions on Igbo votes.
He described MNK’s freedom as the “minimal demand” of the Igbo people.
Mbata also acknowledged the importance of the ongoing legislative attention toward creating an additional state in the South East, describing it as a welcome development.
Mbata urged those in the diaspora to remain law-abiding and sensitive to the customs of their host communities.
He emphasised that the actions of Igbos abroad should reflect the core values of their homeland, warning against lawlessness or the export of unacceptable traditional practices.
The President-General called for the preservation of the Igbo language and culture, which he described as the essential fabric binding the people together.
