Igbo lawmakers consider political solution to South East insecurity, Kanu’s release

Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekwermadu, has said that the South East Caucus of the National Assembly is already working towards defusing tension in the region following the rising level of insecurity that has led to the loss of many lives and properties.

Ekweremadu specifically said the caucus, in which he is a leader, is also finding a political solution that would result in the release of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

This was even as he enjoined the Igbo in diaspora to offer a strong voice against violent agitations and also bring their influences to bear in the search for security and stability in Igbo land.

The former Deputy Senate President, in a lecture entitled “The Igbo in Diaspora: A Perspective” delivered virtually at the Igbo Heritage Lectures and Ugwumba Excellence Award event, held in Pretoria, South Africa, Sunday evening, declared that one of the worst things that could happen to Ndigbo at this time was to allow their homeland to be turned into a theatre of war.

Although Ekweremadu blamed the agitations by various parts of the country on a flawed federal system, injustice, poor management of the nation’s diversity, failure of the federal government to secure lives and property, and needless clampdown on self-determination agitators when dialogue and giving every part of the country a sense of belonging could have sufficed, he however, insisted that violent agitation was not the answer.

“The injustices and marginalisations are palpable and must be addressed. But by all means, we must ensure the stability of Igbo land because only by doing so can Alaigbo (Igbo land) prosper economically and also elicit local and international support and sympathy over their plights.

“What has happened in Alaigbo in the past few months is odd, ‘un-Igbo’, and sacrilegious. Destruction, waste of human lives, and economic losses have been a lot of our region. In particular, the sit-at-home has hemorrhaged Igbo lives and economy and it is good the IPOB has said they are no longer interested in the sit-at-home. No wise man brings war into his home. Our people prosper in industry, commerce, and the informal sector. Most of them survive on daily income.

“Therefore, while we are at liberty to employ every legitimate and democratic means to press for justice and equity, we must all work together to condemn and end the violence, irrespective of whatever quarters it is coming from.

“This is a special appeal to Ndigbo in South Africa, in particular, to wade into the orgy of violence in Igboland and help to restore normalcy. Ndigbo at home expect the Igbo in diaspora to lead the campaign against violent agitations and insecurity in our region because threats to Igbo businesses, the peace, security, and stability of the South-East are threats to our very existence as Ndigbo”, he stated.

On Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Ekweremadu said: “Let me also assure you that the South East Caucus of the National Assembly is not resting on its oars. We are working quietly and surely to address these issues, including finding a political solution to the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu matter.

“We did it before in the case of Chief Raph Uwazuruike in 2007. We also did it in the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in 2017. And God willing, and with your support and prayers, we will succeed again in the matter of Nnamdi kanu to promote peace and stability in our region”.