Biafra: Federal Government Holds Talk With Ohaneze Youths In Abuja

By Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio cultural organization, OHANEZE Youth Council [OYC], says it has commenced negotiation with the Federal Government for a political solution to resolve the issues surrounding the ongoing protests by pro- Biafran groups.

Two Biafran organzations, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement For the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, had been protesting the continued detention of the leader, and promoter of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, by security operatives.

OYC however, believed that the negotiation will ultimately lead to an unconditional release of the detained IPOD leader, Kanu.

To this end, the leadership OYC said it met with the Federal Governemnt in Abuja, Tuesday, through the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Solomon Dalong.

National President of OYC, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, who disclosed this to newsmen in Enugu Wednesday, said the meeting was to look at political solution to resolve the problem of the agitations of the pro-Biafra groups and also the release of their leader, Kanu.

The delegation to meeting held at the Minister’s office, according to Isiguzoro, include the patron of the OYC, Chief M.O. Kanu, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths Development, Mr. Chinyeaka Oha.

Isiguzoro explained that OYC had during the meeting with the Minister, urged the Federal Government to release Kanu, unconditionally as being demanded by IPOB and the Uchenna Madu led (MASSOB) at the South East stakeholders’ meeting held in Enugu, last Sunday.

The OYC said the release of Kanu was part of the conditions by IPOB and MASSOB to halt their protests and urged government to consider their demads as part of the sacrifices for the nation’s unity and peaceful coexistence and free Kanu.

It promised that upon the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the Council would bring agitating groups, IPOB and MASSOB to a negotiating table with the Federal Government and seek a lasting solution to the problem of Igbo youths.

Isiguzoro further hinted that OYC, during the meeting made other demands from the Federal Government which include the absorption of Igbo Youths into the Federal Governemnt amnesty programme and other programmes to ammeliorate their maginatlization and for President Muhammudu Buhari to give Ndigbo more serious appointments in Boards of parastatals and agencies.

Isiguzoro said the Minister admitted that Igbo youths face high level of unemployment and promised to work with other ministries to look into the matter.

The OYC President also quoted the minister to have promised to convey their requests to President Muhammadu Buhari for action and commended the group for its peace disposition.

Expressing hope that the peace effort to seek political solution and secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu and to broker peace between IPOB/ MASSOB and the Federal Government would yield positive result, the council appealed to the pro-Biafran agitators to remain peaceful while the effort to address their grievance is going on.

They also expressed the hope that President Buhari being a listening leader look into the grievances of the protesters with a view to finding permanent solution to them.