It is clear injustice to detain members of MASSOB, but negotiate with violent Boko Haram- Ohanaeze youth wing

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC) has called for the unconditional release of detained members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in the spirit of ongoing negotiation with the Boko Haram sect.

The group also declared support for what it called the anti-corruption stance of President Muhammadu Buhari, just as its president, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, who spoke in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, at the weekend, linked the challenge faced by states in paying monthly salaries to graft.

Explaining that the OYC and MASSOB were two distinct organisations, Isiguzoro, however, urged President Buhari to unconditionally release detained MASSOB members. He pointed out that, if the Federal Government was to negotiate with Boko Haram, Niger Delta Militants and others, it would amount to injustice to detain MASSOB members who engaged in non-violent agitations.

Announcing that the Second International Igbo Youths Day would hold in Umuahia on Monday (today), September 28, 2015, Isiguzoro said that President Buhari had already been informed of the event and that a rousing welcome would be accorded him or his representative.

 According to Isiguzoro, OYC considers it better that “we remain in Nigeria and, from within, press for own dues and rights, especially as we approach 2019 when clearly it will be the turn of the Igbo to produce the Nigerian President. We fully support president Buhari’s vowed anti corruption stance and urge him to give the South East its fair and due share of federal presence.”

On the celebration, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dr Kingsley Dozie, said that the historic event would chart the way forward for Ndigbo and feature four lecture papers the lead of which would be delivered by the Vice Chancellor of the Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Mr. Hilary Odo Edeoga. The event will also honour, MacJohn Nwaobiala Phd, Immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, as well as other ‘OYC veterans.’

The event, which will also be attended by patriotic Igbo sons and daughters at home and in the Diaspora, will welcome representatives of all ethnic youths associations like the Arewa, Afenifere, Ijaw, and the seven Igbo governors, federal and state lawmakers. It will be chaired by former governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife.

“We will also use the forum to thank God for the elections of two Igbo sons Chief Nyesom Wike and Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as governors of Rivers and Delta states respectively.