The Coalition of Northern Group (CNG), yesterday, called on President Bola Tinubu, to disregard the unpatriotic calls by the Igbo elder for the release of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The coalition also calls on the Federal Government to resist the Igbo campaign of blackmail using Kanu’s release as a precondition for sustainable peace in the land.
CNG spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, in a statement, urged President Tinubu not to fall for the antics of IPOB, insisting that the leader of IPOB, Kanu must face trial.
He said by releasing Kanu, President Tinubu’s government would be exposed to questions as to the status of the innocent citizens of other regions killed, dispossessed and displaced as a result of Kanu’s incitement.
Suleiman also called on the Federal Government to intensify ongoing action to disband all militias and armed groups in the South East and other parts of Nigeria, by resort to the use of force if needs be.
He urged President Tinubu to ensure that no group has the capacity to challenge the state in its prerogative to maintain law and order, and protect citizens’ lives and properties.
“How would the relations of the over 500 personnel of the various paramilitary organs who were indiscriminately attacked and killed while on duty posts at various checkpoints as a result of the incitement by Kanu feel?
“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces what words would Mr President use to encourage and retain other officers and men of the various forces if the man who incited the killing of their colleagues were to be released without even a trial?
“What would be the status of the families and community members of those killed, dispossessed or displaced as a result of the hate campaigns and propaganda conducted by Nnamdi Kanu and sponsored by his regional and ethnic collaborators?”
He further said the renewed determination to secure the release of Kanu without trial is part of a wider agenda of destruction and collective mayhem relentlessly pursued by the Igbo perpetrators of violence, fervently hoping it will engulf the entire country and bring about another civil war, mass killings and suffering of innocent people.
“Convinced that the resurgence of violent separatist agitations by IPOB and its ilk in the South East represent a much wider conspiracy for the violent determination of the Igbo to see through the destabilisation of Nigeria cannot be avoided or deferred any longer without terrible consequences.”
