From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Founder and Spiritual Director of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach (ZPMO), Evangelist Chukwuemeka Obi has said the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was the penance for peace in the South East.
The cleric who stated this during his ministration, appealed to South East Governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Igbo elite, to prioritize Kanu’s release which he said holds the key to the restoration of peace and normality to the region.
Obi advised the Igbo leaders to engage the Federal Government on how the IPOB leader would be released.
“We cannot continue to pretend; all is not well. South East is now like a war zone. All our youths have run away because of insecurity.
“I lift up my hands and beg the South East Governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Igbo leaders to go and please with the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu. I beg for Kanu’s release because I believe only that can bring peace to Igbo land.
The cleric further lamented the destruction of the South East economy following the incessant sit-at-home protests as a result of Kanu’s continued detention, regretting that Ndigbo who naturally delight in visiting home during Christmas celebration, now dread going home due to insecurity.
” Ndigbo usually go home during Christmas but now everybody is afraid of visiting Igbo land. Igbo leaders should know that if things continue this way, very soon, we will have no place to call home.
“The only thing I know that if it happens now tension will go down, and peace will return to South East is the release of Nnamdi Kanu. I, therefore, beg the Federal Government, to please release him for the sake of peace in the zone.”
The Imo State-born preacher who said he acknowledged the efforts of the South East Governors towards Kanu’s release however, urged them to intensify efforts, adding that no meaningful progress will be recorded in their respective states under the current state of insecurity.