Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Igbo sociocultural association, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to grant amnesty to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The group is different from Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the more popular one headed by George Obiozor.
In a statement signed by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, its secretary-general, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide also asked the president to pardon all pro-Biafra agitators in detention.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide called on the president to implement the Professor Chigozie Ogbu-led committee report which recommended the creation of Aba state in the south-east.
The group said the creation of the state would be a gift for Ndigbo, adding that it would serve as “a rare opportunity for Buhari to appease the south-east like the way he used June 12th to appease south-western Nigeria as Democracy Day”.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide made the demands ahead of Buhari’s visit to Imo state.
“The President should grant presidential pardon to all pro-Biafra agitators and the leader of the IPOB, Kanu, from there, the truce will commence towards addressing the demands of the secessionist groups across the Igbo land as it predominantly relates to the continued marginalization of the Igbo race in the Nigeria scheme of things,” the statement reads.
“The presidential amnesty would douse the tension necessitated from the rearrest of Nnamdi Kanu and other pro-Biafra agitators detained in security formations across the federation.
“The visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the southeast zone will become significant and highly appreciative if the president comes to Imo state in the southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, and look into these issues critically and holistically
“We have the least states in the country. Recall that a committee on State creation was set up by the national body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and was chaired by the current Vice-Chancellor of Ebonyi State University.
“Professor Chigozie Ogbu submitted its report which recommended the creation of Aba state to ensure structural balancing, we demand from the President that that report should be implemented, because, it will go a long way in addressing some of the challenges facing the southeast.
“This charter of demands will correct the erroneous messages that President Buhari’s visit to Imo state is an alleged endorsement of open grazing routes and part of the fulanilazation of the South.”
The group warned “miscreants” against embarrassing the president during the visit, adding that security agencies will “deal ruthlessly with anyone that engages in such immoral act.”