Kanu Should Allow Us Plead His Case – Umahi; Says IPOB Fighting Criminals

By Akinwale Kasali

Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, wants a political solution to the insecurity in the South-east, a consequence, most people think, of the anger of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra against the Federal Government, over the well-noted marginalisation of the South-east.

Another problem he thinks a political solution could be possible, is the Nnamdi Kanu case. But on this, he put a caveat: ” It is for our people and our brother, Kanu to be willing for us to truly  engage so that we can find true peace in our region.” He, however, added that President Muhammadu Buhari does not interfere in judicial processes, but added, I doesn’t have to be the President engaging in such negotiations.

Umahi spoke at the State House, Abuja, where he went to tell President Muhammadu Buhari that he would run to succeed him in office in 2023.

And in what can be regarded  as an about- face, Kanu said IPOB was fighting criminals, but noted that it was late in the day. He said: “Today the matter has gone beyond IPOB. You know, every criminal, kidnapper, armed robber tends to claim IPOB, and IPOB in turn is fighting them. But I think it is late.”

He said that these criminal activities, including IPOB restrictions have destroyed the economy of the South-east because nobody listened to them (Igbo leaders) when they talked, and pleaded restriction of such activities.

Umahi: “Let me also add that as the Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum, that I support a political solution to our insecurity problems in South-East; and of course, I mentioned it to Mr President.

“You see, political solution does not terminate the judicial process.

“And if you know, Mr President, very well, he has always said, and has always demonstrated, that he wouldn’t interfere with any judicial process; everybody knows him for that.

“If agreement is reached between parties, you don’t expect Mr President to be the negotiator; there are a lot of Federal Government officials.

“So, I believe strongly that as South-East is proposing for political solution, they should be able to engage the Federal Government.

“After all, there’s always what is called ‘out-of-court settlement’, but it is for our people and our brother Kanu to be willing for us to truly engage so that we can find true peace in our region.

“Because, the activities there have destroyed, a lot of the economy of south-East, a lot of lives have been lost and (even) when we were shouting that it wasn’t going to benefit us, because agitation shouldn’t have gone the way it did.

“Today, the matter has gone beyond (IPOB). You know, every criminal, kidnapper, armed robber tends to claim IPOB and IPOB in turn is fighting them; but I think it is late.

“So we desire peace, we desire to save the lives of our people and, so, we are willing to engage, to see that we have, you know, an amicable settlement, rebuild the economy of South-East.”