Why Igbo must unite, fight for Kanu’s release – Prof Obasi Igwe
By Ndukaku Ihe
Professor Emeritus at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Obasi Igwe, has said that the unity of Ndigbo is essential to the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
He called for a collective action for the political and economic advancement of Ndigbo.
Prof. Igwe maintained that unity remains the strongest tool for achieving political influence and infrastructural development in the South East region.
His words: “With unity, there is nothing the Igbo people cannot achieve. We are not worse than others. That is why the others saw the need to divide Igbo land into pieces. Igbo are spread in 13 contiguous states of indigeneity in Nigeria. So, they just split the Igbo into various weakened parts.
“So, if the Igbo are united, we can make a case that before we support anyone in an election or anything, you must subscribe to reopening the Igbo ports of Port Harcourt and Opobo. Why should Tinubu stop Otti from continuing the dredging of Owazza to Azu mmili to Opobo and instead help him to get an airport?
“Abia doesn’t need an airport because there is already a seaport in the making. So, if Ohanaeze is united, we can make a case that the Rivers content of the so-called Coastal Highway should be used in dredging and modernising Port Harcourt to Opobo.
“We can make that case that to get our votes, this is what you need to do. Except they are rigging it, let them rig it. Igbo needs to stand firm, united and make a case for something.”
On the issue of insecurity in the South-East, he linked the crisis to political manipulation and called for Kanu’s release as a step toward restoring peace.
“The release of Nnamdi Kanu because it is the military aided by the DSS and Police that are doing the killings. But Igbo boys recruited by politicians have joined them.
“So, when we stop this official proliferation of insecurity after the release of Nnamdi Kanu, we can start to tackle the issue of the remaining who are the unknown gunmen. These are the needs of the Igbo,” he said.
