Peace In South East Project (PISE-P), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) initiated by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, on Wednesday, averred that the ongoing peace project initiative cannot be complete without an advocacy for the release of the leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
The PISE-P Media Team’s position was contained in a statement made available to Parliamentary Correspondents, in response to the statement credited to the Spokesman of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Emma Powerful, who urged United Nations (UN) to issue the referendum date for Biafra Nation to “decide their fate either to stay in Nigeria or to restore Biafra Nation.”
The project unveiled recently in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State called for a non-kinetic approach towards putting an end to the security challenges in the South East.
In a response to IPOB spokesman’s statement, however, PISE-P “expressed happiness that IPOB has eventually recognized its efforts in ensuring the return of peace to the South East.
“PISE-P received this press release with gladness because it means that a conversation has commenced on the issues affecting our people in the region.
“While thanking all the aggrieved ones in the South East for the peace they maintained during the Yuletide and the New Year celebrations, the conveners of the peace project urge all interested groups including the IPOB to accept to sustain the peace they contributed to during the season. The benefits of peace cannot be overemphasized.
“While we encourage the government to embrace these non-kinetic ways of solving our issues without bullets and guns which they have embraced, the people should reciprocate by being intentional in avoiding threats and comments that incite violence, hatred and bitterness.
“We are preaching no more guns and bullets and bloods of our brothers on the streets of the South East and to preach against it can only come from the real enemies of the South East.
“Peace in South East project cannot be complete without the core element of the advocacy to release our brother Nnamdi Kanu and we insist that conversations are going outside the public eyes to get him out whether conditionally or unconditionally.
“PISE- P will continue in our fight to achieve this because at the end, what matters is that we have peace in the region and yes, this is fundamental to our quest. On this point, we are on the same page with IPOB and nothing more.
“Violence, threats and fear as tools have not helped us to release Kanu. Let’s continue with this dialogue and the peace we all worked for our people to enjoy recently. Support and encourage peace anywhere and everywhere.
“It does not make anyone weak but makes everyone stronger. Don’t give up on peace. Let’s partner for peace, if not for anything for our brother to be released.
“Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu is not after any political interest at this stage of his political pedigree. He is not looking for anything especially when his south east is in turmoil. Peace, first, begets political leadership or aspiration of any sort. Let’s keep our region peaceful and safe. We are fighting for the same interest of the region,” PISE-P said.
Stating that Kalu was only concerned by the security and the economic wellbeing of his people, PISE-P also called for an end to the sit-at-home being observed in south east on Mondays, saying that productive hours are being lost.
“Kalu is leading from the front in finding a solution to the hydra-headed problem of insecurity in the region, especially the sit at home on Mondays that has impoverished the people of the region.
“We will not understand the amount of hunger that is in the land because of the man hours lost on Mondays and how families, small scale businesses that the zone is known for has been eating up their capital because they don’t have sufficient amount of days to be able to push their capital to the point of getting the desired return on investments.
“So, it calls for a concern especially when the impact of what is happening in the geoeconomic region has a ripple effect across the board; in the other geoeconomic regions. Kalu’s concern is the solution so that the people can go back to their farms, schools and markets on Mondays.
“Rest assured that people like Kalu are making moves behind the curtain for Kanu to be released but we appeal that we must be peaceful and improve the economic life of the South East and end the sit at home.
“Once peace is returned to the region, then we can be hopeful of our brother coming out faster that we expect it. Who likes his brother to be locked up?
“Kalu will never deny that Kanu is his brother, not because he is locked up. What PISE-P is saying in essence is that the approach for the agitation should be reviewed. We should show our commitment to the government.
“By coming to Bende, they have come half way. The whole of Abuja relocated to Bende. The President came to Bende. How are we reciprocating? If Nnamdi Kanu’s release is delayed, then, we should blame ourselves. The ball is now in our court now to play. If we calm the south east and make it peaceful, Nnamdi Kanu will come out,” the NGO said.
PISE-P also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, other members of the National Assembly, the governors of the 5 South-Eastern States, the Traditional Rulers, the business community and indeed, Nigerians from all walks of life who were in Bende for the unveiling of the peace initiative.
The Organization also appreciated the Nigerian Senate, the Dangote Group, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Borno State government, Niger Delta Development Commission and other institutions and personalities that partnered it and made donations for the recent launch of the ‘Food for Peace’ Initiative encapsulated in its Agriculture and Food security Pillar to restore peace in the zone.