Deputy Speaker of the Home of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has given a ray of hope on the discharge of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
It will likely be that the Supreme Court docket lately ordered the retrial of Kanu, the chief of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, who has been in detention for an extended whereas now.
His incarceration has generated a whole lot of agitations, together with the sit-at-home noticed on Mondays within the South-East area.
However talking nearly on the “South East political Roundtable”, a present affairs radio programme on FLO FM in Umuahia on Tuesday, Kalu stated that talks had been ongoing to free Kanu.
He, nonetheless, suggested the youth to make sure that the observance of sit-at-home should cease, emphasizing that it was scaring many traders who need to contribute to the event of the area.
Kalu, who additionally spoke on the positive aspects of the lately unveiled Peace In South East Undertaking (PISE-P) in Bende Native Authorities Space of Abia State, requested these carrying arms to put down their weapons and be part of within the non-kinetic strategy being canvassed to finish the safety challenges and different agitations of the individuals.
Kalu known as for help to allow the federal government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ship optimally, saying that the president was within the growth of the South-East.
He stated: “We are able to’t put all our packages and plans on social media. He’s my brother. Is he within the mixture of what we are attempting to do? Sure! It’s one in every of our agenda to make sure he’s launched. Who desires their brother to be in jail?
“We’re working underground. There’s an in depth technique. It’s not by violence, you may’t coerce the federal government by way of violence. It has by no means labored and received’t work. Let’s be wiser. The knowledge is in peace. Let’s quench the violence.
“If it’s chaotic, it received’t work. Let’s settle down. Let the person see that you simply’ve recognised he didn’t contribute to locking him up and that he has not finished something to the South-East.
“We should always help him and his authorities and never assault him. I’m standing firmly in opposition to the voice of violence, preaching peace. That’s what I’m right here for, this voice of peace will echo by way of the Villa and he’ll come out. Mr President was proud of what occurred in Bende, that the entire nation can collect collectively and help this mission.
“Our energy doesn’t lie in what number of weapons we feature, or how many individuals we threaten to not come out on Monday, that’s not the show of the energy of an Igbo man.
“Igbo males are usually not lazy individuals who like sitting at dwelling from Saturday to Sunday to Monday and go to work solely Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, that’s not us; we’re exhausting working, we’re rebuilders, we’re by no means down and after we are down, we discover a method to stand on our toes and lift our shoulders and rebuild once more, that’s my name to our individuals.
“We are able to deliver you in to the rebuilding that we’re doing. We are able to deliver you in to the reconciliation. We are able to deliver you in for rehabilitation and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is within the Igbos.
“Have a look at what he has finished by giving us the Chief of Naval Employees which we by no means received within the final eight years. Did I simply point out the Naval Chief, what in regards to the minister of works, Senator Dave Umahi, my good buddy?
“Mr President gave the minister of works to an Igbo son that proved himself in Ebonyi and he stated, come and construct what you probably did in Ebonyi in the whole Nigeria ranging from the 5 states of the South-East and the one manner we pay the president again is to say there will probably be no work on Monday?
“Have a look at what occurred for the very first time, 15 billionaires of Igbo extraction gathered in Bende. That’s to let you know that they’re able to deliver their trade right here, they’re able to construct factories that may make use of you, so why do you scare them away? Authorities can not do all the things for you. Our brothers who’ve cash need to deliver it again dwelling. A few of them need to do it however you’re scaring them away. How lengthy are we going to promote worry to our individuals?
“This can be a new yr. This can be a new period. This can be a new daybreak and I urge you, come and be part of arms with us. We are going to make you the leaders of this mission. Don’t lead these carrying weapons, let’s provide you with duty, let’s provide you with a process.
“And I name on all of you who’re in help of the sit-at-home on Monday, it’s time to cease. It’s time to cease the sit-at-home on Mondays.
“In case your agitation is in regards to the launch of Nnamdi Kanu; we love our Igbo land and we love our brother and he’s my brother. That he’s locked up doesn’t make him much less of my brother and that you’re agitating doesn’t make you much less of my brother. However I’m saying that there’s a higher method to get it finished. There are lots of methods to kill a rat. Allow us to search for the opposite ways in which we are able to kill this rat with out destroying our dwelling.
“Allow us to come collectively and unite and I can guarantee you that after we unite, there’s nothing we ask this authorities that we can not get, together with the one you’re asking for our brother, it is usually achievable.”
Kalu additionally appreciated the governors of the 5 japanese states for the help they’re giving to PISE-P.
The deputy speaker stated that there was nothing political in regards to the mission, stressing that it was all about group service.
“The Governors of the varied states of the South-East, you may’t do with out them. I can guarantee you all of them need peace for the South-East. None of them is in opposition to this. They’re in full help.
“You don’t go away the job just for the governors. Allow them to play from the highest, we play from the underside, then we meet midway. Then, clear up our issues.
“The peace in South-East mission is just not politics, it’s about group mission anchored on peace. That’s why members of the PISE-P are from completely different political events.
“I can guarantee you, by way of this mission the South-East is not going to stay the identical. All of the boys who’re carrying weapons, there’s hope for them, as a result of we are going to get them gainfully employed, they received’t be wasted”.
Kalu additionally said that there is no such thing as a conflict of curiosity between PISE-P and Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo.
In line with him, the thought of the mission was first communicated to the President-Common of the apex Igbo socio-cultural physique, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, including that he’s in full help of the mission.
“Which conflict of curiosity? He’s in full help of this mission. He’s passionate in regards to the peace and unity of Igbo land. We’re partnering with him”, Kalu stated.