Ohanaeze Worldwide: Kanu’s arrest has averted civil war… peace will return to south-east

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Igbo sociocultural association, says the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will avert another civil war and bring peace to the south-east.

The group is different from Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the more popular one headed by George Obiozor.

According to Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), Kanu was on Sunday extradited to Nigeria to face trial — after being on the run.

The IPOB leader is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him at the federal high court in Abuja.

He was granted bail in April 2017 for health reasons but skipped bail after flouting some of the conditions given to him by the court.

Commenting on his rearrest, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide said the development will bring violent agitations in the south-east to an end.

In a statement by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, its secretary-general, the group said Kanu’s refusal to listen to Igbo leaders’ advice led him to his present predicament.

The group advised the federal government to handle the IPOB leader’s case carefully in order to prevent violent revolts from his followers.

“The re-arrest of Nnamdi Kanu the leader of IPOB is the beginning of the end of violent agitations in southeastern Nigeria and a lesson to others that, deviation from the nonviolent agitations and wasting of the innocent blood of the Igbo youths contradicted what Igbos are known for, and self-determination should not be used for purposes of fortune and fame-seeking,” the statement reads.

“Nnamdi Kanu’s refusal to adhere to the advice of Igbo leaders, Elders, and Political leaders is the outcome of what had befallen him, he made a lot of enemies especially those that would have saved him and Federal Government will never lose grip on him again.

“We don’t think that any Igbo leader will stick out his/her neck for him, his re-arrest will eventually bring peace and stability to the region and averted another civil war that was raging on.

“Federal Government should handle the situation carefully because his large followers of Ipob wouldn’t resort to violent revolts, his trial should be strictly based on the laws of the land, they shouldn’t kill him because it will destabilize the entire country.”

The group called for calm and cautioned the Igbo to desist from any form of protests and processions that will bring “more catastrophe” to the south-east.

Kanu has been arraigned before Binta Nyako, a judge, who ruled that he should be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) till July 26.