FG May Eventually Negotiate with Pro-Biafra Groups
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Despite the ongoing dillydallying by the federal government over the issue of negotiating with the pro-Biafra groups in order to quell the growing separatist sentiments in the South-east and parts of South-south zones, it has emerged that peace talks may after all be in the offing.
Indications that the federal government would eventually attend to the grievances of the protesters followed a meeting between the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, and the leadership of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) at Abuja.
The new development is seen as a prelude to the eventual parley between the federal government and the main separatist groups the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
The National President of OYC, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, who confirmed the meeting of the youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo with the federal government, said it took place on Tuesday, adding that the issue of granting freedom to the leader of IPOB and director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, was part of the discussions.
He said the OYC delegation explained to the minister of youths the need to grant “unconditional” freedom to Kanu as his release was crucial to the success of any future parley between the federal government and the groups clamouring for the revival of Biafra.
According to him, the unconditional release of Kanu was the key demand that both IPOB and MASSOB made during the stakeholders’ meeting held last Sunday at Enugu, where the issue of ending the street protests by the pro-Biafra groups.
The OYC leader said the Ohanaeze youth wing would bring the leadership of IPOB and MASSOB to the negotiating table with the federal government and eventually end the protests one Kanu was released.
He therefore appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to grant freedom to the IPOB leader to facilitate the move to douse the Biafran sentiments. Isiguzoro also said that OYC delegation had asked the minister of youths to help in convincing the federal authorities on the need to release Kanu.
The OYC National President stressed the need for peace to reign in the South-east zone hence the need for the federal government to consider the release of Kanu as “necessary sacrifices for Nigeria’s unity and peaceful coexistence.”
Dalung was said to have lauded the OYC leadership for their efforts in ensuring that youths in the South-east embrace peace and refrain from taking any action that could be injurious to the peace and unity of eh country.
He also pledged to convey to Mr. President the requests made for the release of the pro-Biafra activist.
However, the OYC has urged all pro-Biafra groups and their sympathisers to remain calm as efforts were being made to address their grievances by the federal authorities.
Meanwhile, a group, Southeast Revival Group (SERG), has cautioned the federal government to tread cautiously in its handling for of the clamour for self-determination by the people of the South-east, who are pressing for the actualisation of the Republic of Biafra.
The group also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Kalu, who was arrested in Lagos by the Department of State Service (DSS) when he returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom.
Astatement by SERG’s National Coordinator, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said it was important for the federal government act now before it is too late since the agitation is mostly intellectually driven at this stage.
The statement said it was disheartening that those close to the government are dismissing the agitation, manifested through peaceful protests in several cities, as the handwork of hoodlums and paid touts even when it is apparent that those protesting are genuine stakeholders in the Igbo nation’s quest for self determination.