Integrate Ndigbo, Free Kanu — Ohanaeze Tells Tinubu

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Forum of State Presidents has reaffirmed its readiness to partner with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in efforts to restore order, justice, and inclusiveness in the South-East region.

Addressing journalists in Awka, Anambra State, on behalf of the forum, the Rivers State President of Ohanaeze, Livingstone Wechie, urged President Tinubu to take deliberate and extraordinary steps toward the full integration of Ndigbo into the governance structure of Nigeria.

According to him, such measures would give the Igbo people a deeper sense of belonging and strengthen their participation in national development.

“We strongly urge Mr. President to demonstrate his patriotic spirit by taking extraordinary and intentional steps to fully incorporate and integrate Ndigbo into the governance of Nigeria,” Wechie said.

“This will give them the fullest sense of their Nigerianness, especially in the mainstream of economic and political inclusiveness.”

Wechie commended President Tinubu for establishing the South-East Investment Company and the South-East Development Commission, describing them as commendable initiatives. He, however, stressed the need for further actions to ensure equitable distribution of critical infrastructure and opportunities in the region.

The group also called on the President to order the unconditional release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as well as other Igbo individuals held in various detention facilities across the country in connection with the Biafra agitation including those arrested during the 2020 Oyigbo incident in Rivers State.

“As long as Nnamdi Kanu remains unjustly in prison, to us, all Igbos are in jail,” Wechie said. “We beg you, Mr. President, to look beyond sentiment and release Kanu so that Ndigbo can have peace.”

He warned that any Igbo person working to frustrate Kanu’s release would be considered an enemy of the people and would be “put to shame.”

The forum also lauded Governors Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State for their support and for creating an enabling environment for Igbo advocacy.

It further urged political leaders from the South-East to prioritize the release of Kanu and others as a vital step toward restoring peace and rebuilding confidence in the region.