.png)
By Iheanyi Chukwudi
Founding Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Chekwas Okorie has appealed to Ndigbo, especially their youths respond to the Friday's Supreme Court judgment on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, with equanimity.
Okorie who is known as the Ojeozi Ndigbo, noted that despondency and anger pervaded the entire Igbo land and beyond following the Supreme Court judgment that denied Kanu freedom from the federal government detention, but urged the people to show maturity.
Reacting to the judgment, Okorie in a statement he personally signed said, "The Justices of the Apex Court have waxed legalese to rationalize their judgment. As things stand, I wish to passionately appeal to my people, to endure what is obviously a painful provocation with equanimity."
"I appeal that we do not resort to any precipitate action that may be counterproductive and exacerbate the already existing tension. This moment calls for maturity and wisdom."
Okorie who has been of the opinion that the Kanu matter with Federal Government should be better resolved politically than legally, said that the judgment of apex court has brought that option to the fore again.
He said, "I have always held the view, right from the very beginning of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's saga, long before his gestapo-like, illegal extraordinary rendition from Kenya by Nigerian agents in collaboration with Kenyan authorities that what was needed to resolve this imbroglio was more political than legal.
This is the time to reengage the diplomatic gear."
"I am convinced that President Ahmed Tinubu has all that it takes in terms of political sagacity and savvy to deploy his special presidential dispensation as provided by the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended to intervene at this time."
I believe that well-meaning Igbo leaders need to mobilize without delay to engage President Tinubu constructively with a view to exploring the diplomatic and political solution to the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other prisoners of conscience.
"It is with every sense of responsibility that l repeat my sincere appeal to our people, especially the angry youths, to give this renewed initiative a chance being the first such move under the President Tinubu dispensation."
Comments