SAHARA REPORTERS
The United States Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVIDUSA) has issued a resounding warning to the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government, while calling for the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
They also demanded the restoration of Nigeria’s regional autonomy as defined in the 1960/63 constitutional framework.
AVIDUSA, an influential organisation comprising former U.S. military personnel of Igbo heritage, argues that the current political and security climate in Nigeria is unsustainable and risks leading the country towards severe instability.
They stressed that returning to the 1960/63 regional autonomy model would provide a framework for equitable governance and address long-standing grievances.
In a statement signed by Chief Dr Sylvester Onyia, the President of and issued through the Secretary, Dr Godson Obiagwu, it was stated that the only way to address Nigeria’s socio-economic and security problems is to return the country to the 1960/63 regional autonomy.
The statement read, “In 2017, shortly after the leader of the Biafra indigenous people was freed from illegal detention, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the late Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Evangelist Elliot U. Uko, and the South-East governors met in Enugu state to discuss the demands of the Biafran people.
“On August 30, 2017, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu made these demands before the South-East governors, who were chaired by Engr. Dave Umahi.”
Kanu’s demands included: “Make Enugu a grade one international airport so that our people in different parts of the world can easily fly in without having to stop over first in any part of Nigeria.
“He demanded that River Niger be dredged to reduce the heavy loss of importation which our people who dominate the sector painfully bear.
Onyia said that “Kanu also demanded that Owerri airport which our people contributed money to build in the days of Governor Sam Mbakwe be upgraded to a functional Cargo airport.”
According to him, “He equally demanded that Port Harcourt Sea ports be made to operate in full capacity so that big ships can berth in them.
“MNK demanded the revival of all moribund industries in the South-East and South-South to provide job opportunities for thousands of our youths and graduates from higher institutions.”
He explained that following announcement of his demands to the South-East, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu reiterated that if they failed to address these problems, Biafrans would demand a referendum on their status as foreigners in Nigeria.
“At that point, Prof. Ben Nwabueze informed him that Nigeria was better off under the 1960s–1963 Constitution – (A restructured Nigeria). Respecting Prof. Ben Nwabueze as his father, he consented to restructuring along 1960 to 1963 Constitution, up until two weeks later, when Nigerian government security agents broke into his home in Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Abia state of Nigeria, and killed twenty-eight persons.”
“Some of you today called him names and even called him a terrorist because you didn’t know what MNK stood for,” Onyia stated.
“Many lives were lost when Biafrans were imprisoned in all government detention facilities across Nigeria, some of them were shot and killed, but no account of their deaths was provided just because they were Biafrans.
“His parents died because they were unable to withstand the shock. In light of the fact that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is still being held without authorisation, both the North and the South have agreed that Nigeria should be restructured.”
Onyia added that the South-East Development Commission was something that the East is proud of. It wasn’t accidental; rather, it was the outcome of the very change-agitation that the IPOB and its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, supported.
