The Council of Elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has called for the unconditional release of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Nnamdi Kanu by the federal government.
The Council made the call in a communiqué it issued at the end of its meeting on the state of the nation held in Abuja.
The Council disclosed of its readiness to convoke a peace summit soon, saying Kanu cannot be languishing in the gulag of the Department of State Services (DSS) while the peace summit holds.
It described the security situation in the country as very dire, stressing that the situation has worsened especially in the South East where innocent lives are daily lost and private and public property are either razed or destroyed.
According to the council, the state and federal governments are deploying huge financial resources fighting meaningless war instead of providing infrastructure, education and healthcare services to the people.
It stated that employment for the youths will reduce the insecurity situation in the land.
The Council observed with dismay that some people still use the issue of secession against the interest of the South East zone.
The communiqué which was read by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu made it clear that Ndigbo will not secede from Nigeria.
It said that the Igbo have invested immensely in Nigeria, saying that the talk of secession is being peddled without honesty.
The Council submitted that Ndigbo are interested in fairness and equity, insisting that when a government denies Ndigbo opportunities due them, the people will never be happy.
The Council noted that a development where most Igbo people cannot aspire to the highest office in the land will not be tolerated.
It requested their colleagues in other tribes to exercise caution in some of the decisions they make particularly as it concerns the affairs of the nation.
The Council expressed concern that most of the people are unemployed including graduates.
It noted that any policy by the governments on employment without first ensuring security of the nation will be an exercise in futility.
The Council resolved to revive the moribund Nigercem Nkalagu in Ebonyi State which has the capacity to address unemployment in the South East.
It raised a Committee headed by Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo to mediate between the Ebonyi State Government and investors to ensure the reactivation of the factory this year.
The Council has also decided to revisit the Coal-Mining activities in the zone to make it functional and create employment for the teeming unemployed people.
The Council also encouraged business leaders to participate in the reactivation of the coal-mining industry in Igbo land which will increase the nation’s GDP when it becomes functional.
In attendance at the meeting were Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Governor Achike Udenwa, Prof Tim Menakaya, Senator Ben Obi, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Ambassador Kema Chikwe, Amb Eddy Onuoha, and Senator Julius Ucha.
Others were Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, Prof Theo Ndubuaku, Prof Charles Nwekeaku, Air Vice Marshal Obierika (rtd) Chief Sam Obaji and Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu.
