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Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu Bows To Pressure As Ohanaeze, IPOB Reconcile

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Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu Bows To Pressure, Begs Nwodo's Ohanaeze For Help
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The leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has finally bowed to pressure by retracting his threats on Nnia Nwodo, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Naija News recalls that Kanu had in one of his outings on social media, a fortnight ago, directed Igbo youths to stone the Ohanaeze leader to death anywhere they saw him. Kanu’s statement, which went viral has dominated public discourse across towns and communities in Igbo land and beyond.

However, on Tuesday, the apex Igbo socio-cultural Organisation and Kanu led-IPOB agreed to work harmoniously towards the interest of the Ibo. The IPOB and Ohanaeze Ndigbo which had been at loggerheads especially in recent times brokered peace at the instance of First Republic Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazuluike Amechi.

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Chief Amechi who addressed journalists after the peace meeting at the elder statesman’s house in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, ]described as unnecessary any form of the altercation between Ohanaeze Ndigbo and IPOB.

Amechi, the only surviving member of the Zikist Movement, said both bodies were fighting for the welfare of Ndigbo even as he expressed joy over the withdrawal threat by Mr Kanu of stoning Nwodo as well as agreeing to work harmoniously with Ohaneze Ndigbo for the interest of the South East.

The elder statesman also revealed that part of the resolution from the meeting was the demand for de-proscription of IPOB which he described as illegal, urging the Governors and State Houses of Assembly in the region to commence action towards lifting the ban.

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His words: “I summoned the two bodies of Ohaneze Ndigbo and IPOB to express my displeasure with what I have been reading in the newspapers about Kanu giving orders for the stoning of Chief Nwodo by IPOB.

“I’m happy that even before this my peace meeting, Kanu has retracted the statement. We, therefore, appeal to Nwodo to accept the retraction and get it off his mind as IPOB has agreed to work with them.

“The two bodies realizing that it is the same battle they are fighting, marginalization, killings and denial of Federal Government to develop South East and Igbo land, in general, have agreed to work together for the welfare of Ndigbo.”

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On the other hand, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, a counsel to Kanu, who represented IPOB, said he was at the meeting with the blessings and instructions of his clients, just as he thanked Amaechi who he said was not a stranger to what he was doing having been once declared a terrorist.

The lawyer of the IPOB leader confirmed the retraction of his client’s threats on the Ohaneze President-General, describing it as one spoken at the heat of the moment.

While stressing the urgent need for regional security, Ejimakor insisted that such would not be achievable without the de-proscription of the pro-Biafran body, saying “it has to participate as the muscle of building the security.”

His words said: “There was a synergy between us and the Ohaneze. Nobody is leaving this place with acrimony. There’s peace in Igbo land. Anybody coming in to take advantage of some leadership crises in Igbo land is actually making a mistake.

“The Igbos are united and love themselves, otherwise, they couldn’t have sustained themselves for the 3-year civil war. Whoever saying anything contrary is sowing a seed of discord.

Meanwhile, State President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, who spoke on behalf of the apex Igbo socio-cultural Organisation, said the body endorsed all that were contained in the communique.

“Those who thought our fences are fallen will know that the fences are much stronger than they thought,” he said.