The pro-Biafra organisation, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has attacked northern leaders for reportedly condemn- ing the position taken by the Ohanze Ndigbo over purported plans to re-arrest its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Reacting to statements from northern leaders, IPOB argued that Kanu has not committed any crime that could warrant being rearrested. The group also commended the leadership of Ohanaeze for defending its (IPOB) activity.
The apex Igbo socio-political organisation had warned the Federal Government against purported plans to rearrest the IPOB leader, stressing that another controversial crack- down on the pro Biafra lead- er or its followers could spell doom for Nigeria.
The President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Nnia Nwodo, had in the statement accused the Attorney General of bias, double standard and violation of Kanu’s fundamental human rights, noting that the AGF had looked the other way since the call to arrest the Arewa youths who issued quit notice to Igbos was made.
“These same Arewa youths are supposed to have been arrested on the orders of the Governor of Kaduna State and the Inspector General of Police for acts of treason, conversion and sedition. As the chief law officer of the federation, the Attorney-General looks the other way. He does not go to court to seek an order of arrest or prosecution.”
He argued further: “I am amazed that the distinguished attorney is prepared to contest the superiority of the provisions of the Constitution on fundamental human rights of freedom of movement and freedom of association over an erroneous judicial proclamation violating those rights.”
However, Arewa leaders under the aegis of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), in a reactive statement issued through its Chairman, Dr. Paul Unongo, condemned the apex Igbo socio political group for criticising the Federal Government’s plan to re-arrest Kanu.
Unongo said the northern elders were disappointed that Ohanaeze had trivialised a criminal matter, arguing that Kanu’s case was 100 per cent different from the ultimatum issued by the northern youths. He added that the northern elders were able to prevail on their youths and the matter had since been resolved.
“What Ohanaeze members are doing is that they are giving the impression that if someone commits a crime and is
from their tribe, he shouldn’t be tried. I don’t understand. Are they saying he (Kanu) should not be tried until someone from another part of the country is arrested? That will invite chaos to the country.
“I will advise Ohanaeze and the Federal GovWernment to let the matter be settled at the court because the issue of de- tention is in the hands of the court. It was granted and if the conditions were flouted, I think the prosecution is right to ap- proach the same court to prove that the bail condition has been violated and to ask for the court to revoke the bail,” he said.
The IPOB in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, said Kanu has succeeded in breaking the ‘Arewa born to rule mentality’ with his agitation for Biafra.
The statement read in parts: “If Nigeria ever had a case against our leader, why has the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) not commenced the trial since October 2015 when our leader was first arrested? Instead the Arewa North thought they could intimidate this present Ohanaeze Ndigbo as they did to previous executives, into allowing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to be arrested.
“The people are no longer intimidated by the disproportionate number of Arewa sons in the military and other armed forces who are in essence the foot soldiers of the Caliph- ate and not Nigeria. The idea of wanting to use baseless trumped up charges to justify the extra judicial detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be resisted by all men and women of good conscience.”
The separatist group noted that President Muhammadu Buhari should be arrested for disobeying court orders on Kanu.
He said: “After all, it was Buhari himself that disobeyed court order after court order directing the unconditional release of our leader in 2015. If anyone deserves to be arrested, it is Buhari.”
“Paul Unongo and his caliphate handlers should also call for the arrest of the Director General of DSS and AGF for flagrant and serial disobedience to court orders. Whilst they are at it, they should not fail to add their beloved Arewa Youths, who committed the treasonable act of incitement to genocide, which is a far more serious crime than attempted coup d’etat.
“What Arewa Consultative Forum through their Arewa Youths did was nothing short of a call to mass murder and appropriation of properties that does not belong to them. Arewa Elders that incited the youths, provided them finance and logistics must also be arrested.
“It’s a pity that Chief Paul Unongo, who appear not to know his roots, have consistently failed to raise his voice against Fulani herdsmen slaughtering and abusing their way through swathes of Benue land where he comes from.
“That he found the cour- age to challenge the stance of Ohaneze Ndigbo publicly con- firms what we have always known, that he’s suffering from what psychologists call the Stockholm Syndrome.
“We promise Chief Paul Unongo and his collaborators in the Arewa North that Nigeria will never be the same after this encounter. Arewa North should concentrate on alleviating the long suffering poor masses of the core North and leave Biafra, IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu alone.”
Source: https://orientdailynews.com/kanus-re-arrest-ipob-attacks-arewa-leaders-for-condemning-ohanaeze/Seun Lalasticlala mynd44 
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