Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze Chief has asked Ndigbo not to despair over the current situation of the region, assuring that things would soon turn around for the better.
The Archbishop of Enugu Province and Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Anglican Communion, Church of Nigeria, Most Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma, has called on President Bola Tinubu’s government to release Nnamdi Kanu to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide led by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
Nnamdi Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021 despite court judgements and United Nations Communications ordering his release.
However, speaking at the Cathedral Church of Good Shepherd, during a thanksgiving service to mark the commencement of the 2023 Igbo Day Celebration which will take place at the Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout Enugu, on Friday, September 29, 2023, the cleric said that without the release of Kanu, peace efforts in the southeast may be futile.
He said, “We must make Tinubu obey the rule of law, Nnamdi Kanu must be released; they should stop deceiving themselves. Let them release Nnamdi Kanu to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, let them release him to you and see what will happen.
“Thank God we are overcoming sit-at-home on Mondays, Peter Mbah is trying, insisting that Mondays must not be wasted, Alaigbo must not be wasted. Please all of you should cooperate, let us revive the economy of South East."
Chukwuma, however, urged all Igbo people to support Iwuanyanwu’s leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, explaining that his choice was unanimous.
Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze Chief has asked Ndigbo not to despair over the current situation of the region, assuring that things would soon turn around for the better.
Iwuanyanwu, who attended the church service alongside other Igbo and Ohanaeze Ndigbo leaders, said Igbo people have the potential to be great again, noting that his administration was doing everything possible to put them to work.
He commended the governors of the five Southeast states for their support for him since his assumption of office as President General and assured that with such support and that of other Igbo leaders including Ndigbo in the Diaspora, Igbo people would soon regain their greatness.