News
Ohanaeze demands Nnamdi Kanu’s release, bans ‘Eze Ndigbo’ title outside Igbo land
..condemns stereotyping of Ndigbo abroad
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has renewed its demand for the release of detained separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, describing his continued incarceration as a source of collective pain for the Igbo people.
The organization also announced the ban on conferment and use of the title of “Eze Ndigbo” outside Igbo land, warning that violators would face sanctions to be determined by traditional authorities.
Speaking at the Ime-Obi/General Assembly meeting in Enugu on Thursday, the President General of the group, John Azuta-Mbata, emphasised that “Kanu that is in jail is the entire Igboland that is there,” stressing that “there is no Igbo man that is happy that Kanu is in incarceration.”
Azuta-Mbata urged the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release Kanu, calling it “the minimal demand of Ndigbo,” while cautioning Igbo leaders against misrepresenting the sentiment of the people to the Federal Government. “Let our people stop deceiving the federal government on what our people want,” he said.
The Ohanaeze leader also condemned what he described as the increasing stereotyping and targeting of Igbo people globally. “We’re not happy where Ndigbo are being hunted down all over the world. The stereotyping of our people in many countries must stop,” he stated, while urging Igbo communities in the diaspora to conduct themselves responsibly.
The renewed call underscores ongoing tensions surrounding Kanu’s detention and reflects growing concerns over the treatment of Igbo people both within Nigeria and abroad.
“At the same time, we appeal to our people to be in their best behavior wherever they find themselves,” he said.
Delivering his welcome address, Azuta-Mbata described the gathering as “a testament to our resilience, unity, and unwavering commitment to the advancement of Ndigbo,” urging stakeholders to use the opportunity for introspection and decisive action.
He emphasised the need for unity across political, economic, and social lines, noting that “our strength lies in our ability to forge a common purpose and uplift one another.”
He further stated that the organisation would focus on critical issues such as economic development, cultural preservation, and youth empowerment, urging investment in younger generations to secure the future of Alaigbo.
“It is time to innovate and invest in our youth, the torchbearers of our culture and traditions,” he said.
On constitutional matters, Azuta-Mbata welcomed ongoing discussions around additional state creation, describing it as a positive development receiving deserved attention.
He also reiterated the importance of preserving the Igbo language and culture, calling on families and institutions to promote them actively.
The Ohanaeze President General concluded by urging leaders to be “bold, visionary, and accountable,” while calling on all delegates to embrace the guiding principles of “Think Igbo, Grow Igbo, and Work Together.”
Dignitaries at the event included the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara; Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma; traditional and religious leaders, and several other Igbo leaders and delegates from across the states that make up Ohanaeze.
The African Democratic Congress has raised the alarm over an alleged plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
The party said it had received what it described as “credible reports” of plans to arrest the former Osun State governor in the days leading to the poll.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on X on Wednesday, the ADC said it was concerned that the alleged arrest could be aimed at disrupting the party’s election activities.
“Given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised the conduct of this government towards the opposition, we cannot afford to dismiss these reports,” Abdullahi said.
Aregbesola, who served as governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018 and later as Minister of the Interior, is currently the National Secretary of the ADC.
The party said there were established procedures that should be followed if any security agency had lawful reasons to question its national secretary.
“Ogbeni Aregbesola is a former Governor of Osun State, a former Minister of the Federal Republic and the National Secretary of the opposition political party. If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” it said.
The ADC argued that arresting Aregbesola on the eve of an election in which the party is participating would raise questions about the motive behind such an action.
“An arrest on the eve of an election in which his party is participating would invite only one reasonable conclusion: that the purpose is to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party’s election activities,” the statement said.
The party consequently put the Federal Government and security agencies on notice, urging them to avoid actions that could undermine the credibility of the election.
“The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said.
“Whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election will be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now.”
The ADC also warned the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government against taking any action that could trigger political tension in the state.
“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis,” the party said.
The party further called on the government to respect democratic principles and ensure that political parties are allowed to participate freely in the election.
“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” Abdullahi said.
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of nine dead bodies on the Wawa-Lumma road in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger.
The victims were suspected to have been killed by bandits while travelling on the road.
The Spokesperson for the Niger Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Minna.
He said that a team of police and military was dispatched and evacuated the bodies after information was received on Tuesday.
He said clearance operations had been intensified with a view to securing the area from any security threat.
“Police and military tactical teams were mobilised to the scene; the bodies recovered, while clearance operation was intensified to secure the area,” he said.
NAN
Nigerian streamer, Peller has dragged his parents for attending his wedding ceremony with their partners.
Peller had his white wedding, which was attended by many dignitaries over the weekend.
Peller’s parents, who have separated from each other, attended the ceremony with their respective partners.
Expressing his frustration over the development, the TikTok streamer, in a video on Wednesday, revealed that he had confronted his parents for turning his wedding into a party despite his earlier warning.
“I’m tired, I’m tired of all these things. I changed it for them oo, no be small.
“Because I told them to invite just a few people, but my mummy dey carry her own boyfriend come, my daddy carry his own girlfriend come.
“All of them just turned my wedding to party. Polygamy is very hard, I’m from a polygamous family”, he said. (sic)
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