The leading Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged Ndigbo both at home and abroad to be calm and preserve peace in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to reject Nnamdi Kanu’s release, which went against what Ndigbo had anticipated.

“Violence should not be justified by Kanu’s non-release, even though it is a temporary setback. Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the secretary general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, urges Ndigbo to work together and find political solutions for Kanu’s release, irrespective of party affiliations.

“We renounce the allegations that Ohanaeze Ndigbo met with some governors who are on the watch list of IPOB and allegedly worked against the release of Nnamdi Kanu at the Supreme Court on Friday, December 15th, 2023,”

According to Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro. “As Igbo leaders, we challenge the Southeast Governors and all implicated to clear their names with IPOB in order to correct the record. We know that some Igbo businesspeople and political leaders were profiting from Nnamdi Kanu’s prolonged detention and were not genuinely pushing for his release. Ohanaeze Ndigbo disapproves of these changes and issues a warning to those responsible for them to stop. We vehemently reject any participation in such activities.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo tells Ndigbo and Biafra agitators to keep their cool and underlines that there is still hope. The Supreme Court has ordered that Kanu’s trial begin despite refusing to free him and acknowledging significant inadequacies in the arrest procedure. Igbo leaders now have a fresh chance to interact with the federal administration.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphasises that in order to solve the problem of Igbo marginalisation and aid in the reorientation of those who have been subjected to systematic marginalisation in the Southeast, which has fueled the Biafra agitation, the federal government must act simultaneously. The federal government needs to look for non-violent ways to address the Southeast situation.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo thinks that Nnamdi Kanu, the head of IPOB, may be freed and a peaceful settlement can be reached with communication, understanding, and cooperation. The group is still dedicated to promoting the rights and welfare of Ndigbo and will keep pushing for a successful and peaceful Nigeria.