SE Traditional Rulers, Bishops Commend IPOB for Calling off Sit-at-Home Order

The South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops have commended Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the entire leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for listening to their appeal and calling off the sit-at-home order before the Anambra Governorship election held November 10.

According to the group, the call off offered some relief to the already distressed social and economic life of the people.

In an official statement, issued recently, jointly signed by His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka A. Achebe, CFR, mni; His Grace, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, Catholic Archbishop of Owerri and His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr) Chibuzo Raphael Opoko, JP Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, the Joint Body expressed its relief that the Anambra State Gubernatorial Election was conducted without any major incidents or breach of the peace.

It also commended the people of Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Security Forces, the National Peace Committee, and all the other actors who contributed to the successful conduct of the election.

On the ongoing trial of the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the group stated as follows:
“The Joint Body is highly disturbed by the persistent complaints by the IPOB legal team about the difficulties it encounters in dealing with the Department of State Services (DSS) and, especially, the sad events which occurred during Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s appearance in court last Wednesday, November 10″.

“This Body urges the court to affirm the fundamental rights of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, his lawyers, and other stakeholders. Failure to do so would lend weight to the suspicion in some quarters of a planned secret trial, as well as neutralise all the efforts being made to establish peace in the South East”.

The Joint Body also acknowledged the statement by the Attorney-General & Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN, in which he affirmed that the Federal Government was open to a political solution to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case, adding that the statement is in line with the proposal earlier made by them and other well-meaning persons and groups in Nigeria.

Stating that, it is eagerly waiting the concrete steps that would be taken in this regard, the joint body added “The Joint Body acknowledges the roles played by various other Igbo organizations and groups in fostering peace in the South East zone and calls on all to sustain the current effort until true peace, based on justice and equity, is achieved in our land”.