From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has said peace in the South East was the panacea for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Kalu, who stated this at his country home in Bende, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, yesterday, was of the view that contrary to the belief in some quarters that violent approach would quicken the process that would herald the release of the detained IPOB leader from detention, peaceful approach would quicken Kanu’s release.
The Deputy Speaker, who noted that no leader would want to discuss about the release of Kanu in the face of the present violent agitation in the Southeast, said that it would take a strategic step and thinking to release Kanu. He said the Federal Government is willing to grant amnesty to the agitators, if they drop their arms and embrace peace.
He said: “Insecurity is pushing industrialisation in the southeast away. The Monday sit-at-home in the southeast is an affront on the federal government. President Tinubu is concerned about what is happening in the southeast. He knows how important southeast is to the economy of the country and would do anything possible, to ensure that peace returns to the region.
“President Tinubu that I know is ready to grant amnesty to the agitators, if they drop their arms and embrace peace. The federal government is ready to have a conversation with them, if they agree to come out from the bush and handover their arms to security agencies.
“The release of Nnamdi Kanu needs strategic steps and thinking, and not the fight on the pages of newspapers or through the power guns. The best step is to reduce the trouble in the southeast. They should surrender arms and have Nnamdi Kanu.”
The Bende Federal House of Representatives lawmaker informed that it was because he was worried on the amount of blood being spilled in the southeast, that formed part of the reason for his pet project; Peace In Southeast Project (PISE-P).
Kalu noted that the Southeast Development Commission Bill, which is awaiting deliberation and passage by the Senate, would be able to address some of the teething problems of the southeast, when it is established.