A rights group, Save Nigeria Movement (SNM), has disclaimed allegation that SNM is a stooge of the federal government, challenging the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to prove that it is not responsible for the security infractions being experienced in the south-eastern region of the country.
IPOB had in a statement signed by its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, accused SNM of siding with the Federal Government and argued that the only way to end insecurity in the region is through the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB was reacting to a letter SNM wrote to the Speaker House of Representatives, urging him to caution Hon. Obinna Aguocha, House Ad-hoc Committee Chairman on Insecurity in Abia over his unpatriotic calls for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu as it amounted to interference with court processes and against the already existing position of the House.
In a press release signed by the Convener of Save Nigeria Movement, Rev. Solomon Semaka, and made available to journalists in Abuja, the group described as contradictory statements made by one Emma Powerful, accusing the federal government of sponsoring insecurity in the South-East and also saying the only solution to insecurity in the region is the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
According to the statement, “It’s unfortunate that IPOB thinks Nigerians are fools. How can they say the federal government is sponsoring insecurity in the South-East and that the release of Nnamdi Kanu is the only solution to insecurity? Was it the federal that started the recruitment and brainwashing of vulnerable youths in the so-called Eastern Security Network (ESN )? Is it the federal government that initiated the primitive and retrogressive sit-at-home order that has brought down the businesses and livelihood of the people of the region? Is the federal government that sponsors gunmen to burn down government infrastructure and the killing of security personnel? Or should we believe IPOB that it is the federal government that goes about burning down houses of traditional rulers in the region? The blood of the innocent N’dibo and other Nigerians is on the terrorist organization and they must come to equity with clean hands.
“Our position remains the same, Nnamdi Kanu should remain in custody while far reaching consultations, investigations and the continuation of ongoing campaigns until a sustainable solution is found that will restore the peace and tranquility of the region. This is our position and that of average well meaning Easterners”.
The CSO observed that, in describing Hon. Obinna Aguocha as a stakeholder who knows the situation in the South-East, IPOB have shown that they only listen to stakeholders whose utterances embolden them to unleash mayhem on the region and not those who call for calm and constructive engagement.
“It is rather pathetic that IPOB wants to blackmail legitimate stakeholders like Save Nigeria Movement because they do not represent their evil interests. Is IPOB saying Hon. Obinna Aguocha and his cohorts are the only stakeholder that has spoken since Nnamdi Kanu started the crisis in the region? How come it is only his unpatriotic utterance with the intent to undermine national security that they have deemed fit to heed?”, the CSO queried.
“We appreciate the urgency for political survival but the lives of the people matter more, Hon Obinna Aguocha and his cohorts should not prioritize their political survival more than the stability of the region and the nation ”
The CSO urged IPOB as well as other stakeholders to eschew violence and come to terms with reality of the prosecution of their leader rather than threatening citizens and blackmailing the federal government with more violence and expecting that Nnamdi Kanu will be released for peace to reign in the South-East region.
“If IPOB is sincere in ending the needless insecurity in the South-East region, they should embrace peace and end all forms of hostilities. All that concerns us is for peace to return to the region and nothing more,” the statement added.
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