Igbo youth leaders have threatened to lead a protest to the nation’s capital, Abuja, if the Nigerian government does not make provision for a speedy and fair trial of the leader of the pro-Biafra group, IPOB, who is detained in Abuja
This is as they expressed their determination and commitment to the lasting Peace, Stability and Security in the South East and Igbo Land in General.
They also promised to continue to work in Solidarity with the Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and other political class in protecting and promoting Igbo Interest.
The resolutions by the youth leaders are contained in a communique issued on Friday in Enugu, Enugu State, at the end of an emergency meeting.
The meeting was attended by the Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Wing, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC), Association of South-East Town Union (ASETU) Youth Wing, and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
The youth leaders requested a meeting with the leadership of IPOB to discuss the sit-at-home order which they admitted “has had a negative impact on socio-economic life of the region and its residents”.
The youth leaders commended the Abia and Enugu State governments for enacting the anti-open grazing law, and called on Anambra, Imo and Ebonyi states to enact a similar law.
The communique read in part
“The current instability as witnessed in the Southeast today is not only as a result of obsolete and crumbling security architecture but mainly a result of gross mal-administration & leadership failure at all strata of Govt in the country & the insincerity of the political class .
“The arrest and continued detention without arraignment of our brother Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has led to civil unrest and disobedience in the Southeast, we therefore call on the Federal Government to make available all necessary logistics needed for the timely and speedy trial of Nnamdi kanu (which must be fair and in accordance with laid down laws of the country), if not the South east youths will lead a protest to Abuja in that regard.
“Furthermore, we call on the Federal Government to exhibit similar dexterity shown in Mazi Nnamdi Kanu case in other region of the Country.
“We hereby call on the leadership of IPOB to have an interface with us so as to ascertain their actual take on the ongoing sit at home which has had an evident negative impact on the socio-economic life of the southeast region and her residents.
“On the issue of Farmers and Herder’s crisis in Alaigbo, we maintain our stand on Anti-open grazing, we commend the Governors and Legislators of Abia and Enugu state for signing the bill into law and call on their counterparts in Anambra Imo and Ebonyi to expedite actions in ensuring the anti open grazing bill is passed and signed into law.
“We have noted with great dismay and disappointment, the failure of the Southeast Governors to activate and implement the Southeast Security Network known as EBUBEAGU.
“We call for a revisit of this complementary Security Architecture in Southeast where the Youths must be included in the design and implementation of same, and a that proper legislation be enacted for that purpose in all the South East States.
“This will clearly define the relationship between the Government and the Governed, especially the Youths.
“We have studied the issue of Youth participation in politics in Alaigbo and we want to use this medium to call on all Igbo Youths to get actively involved in politics and policy making in their respective states.
“Let the forthcoming Anambra election serve as a litmus test. Consequently we will call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure Transparency and Credibility in the November 6th Gubernatorial Election in Anambra State.
“We stand with the decision of the Governors of Rivers and Lagos States on the need for States to collect Value Added Tax (VAT), generated from their respective States and call on the Governors of South East to join the move.
“We were taken aback why Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Enugu Zonal Office should disrupt our peaceful convention to the extent of harassing and arresting Youth Leaders who are attended the Convention.
“Consequently we condemn this in Strongest terms, and therefore call on the EFCC leadership to tender an unreserved apology to the Youths of Alaigbo for this unwarranted abuse”.
