The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to respect Nigeria’s constitution.
IPOB also called on Buhari to release its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention since October 2015.
The group made the comments via a statement released by spokesmen, Emma Nmezu and Dr. Clifford Iroanya.
The statement reads:
“Muhammadu Buhari freed a terrorist Kabiru Umar (a.k.a Kabiru Sokoto) but disobeyed court orders on unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu. Is the government not sure of the ability of its legal team to make a strong case for the conviction of Kanu?”
“Is government impatient with the rule of law to the extent that it now wants to take the laws into its hands and resort to extra-judicial killing which has always been its second nature?
“What is the rationale behind government’s preference for the freedom of a terrorist and mass murderer over compliance with the rulings of courts of competent jurisdictions?
“Even with his limited education and non-existent leadership training plus lack of updated skills in modern and democratic governance, Buhari should at least respect the constitution of the country he is claiming to be the president of.”
IPOB lawyer, Amobi Nzelu also said that Buhari can’t kill the Biafra agitation.
“They should engage in a meaningful dialogue. Ideology cannot be destroyed by might or force but by what I call constructive and Pentecostal persuasion. You cannot destroy an ideology.
Even if you kill the person, it is an ideology, it’s not a movement. Anything that is settled politically, the wound heals faster,” Nzelu told Daily Sun during an interview.
“It was the most inappropriate forum to have said that. Let me restate it in unmistaken terms that the issue of Biafra is not what you can settle with a wave of hand. To celebrate what he did over 40 years ago before those young corps members was uncalled for. He should better put his war experience in a book form.
“Buhari has done well in fighting corruption, but he is mishandling the issue of Biafra and other ethnic agitations. He should do the needful. Nnamdi Kanu has been in detention for over 18 months now. Let the president release him.
“When Mohammed Yusuf started Boko Haram, he was arrested and he died in their hands. If the issue was properly handled, we would not have had the ruin we have in the North East today,” Nzelu added.
IPOB had earlier said that its members were ready to die to show their support for the movement.
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