The Northern Elders’ Forum, NEF, has reacted to the position of Ohaneze Ndigbo on the move by the Federal Government to rearrest the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
NEF, through its Chairman, Dr. Paul Unongo, condemned the apex Igbo socio-political group for criticising the Federal Government’s plan to rearrest Kanu.
The President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Nnia Nwodo, had accused the Attorney-General of bias, double standard and violation of Kanu’s fundamental human rights.
He pointed out that the AGF had looked the other way since the call to arrest the Arewa youths who issued quit notice to Igbos was made.
But reacting, Unongo, said the northern elders were disappointed that Ohanaeze had trivialised a criminal matter.
He said Nnamdi Kanu’s case was 100 per cent different from the ultimatum issued by the northern youths, adding that the northern elders were able to prevail on their youths and the matter had since been resolved.
Unongo said, “Leaders should be careful about what they support.
“This is the kind of thing that happened when our young men from the North , feeling cheated and angry with the old men from Kanu’s place for not cautioning Kanu, did what they did (ultimatum).
“But I came out immediately and said Nigerians have inalienable right to reside anywhere . I did that even to the detriment of my friendship with some people.
“But what Ohanaeze members are doing is that they are giving the impression that if someone commits a crime and is from their tribe, he shouldn’t be tried. I don’t understand.
“Are they saying he (Kanu) should not be tried until someone from another part of the country is arrested? That will invite chaos to the country.
“I will advise Ohanaeze and the Federal Government to let the matter be settled at the court because the issue of detention is in the hands of the court.
“It was granted and if the conditions were flouted, I think the prosecution is right to approach the same court to prove that the bail condition has been violated and to ask for the court to revoke the bail.”
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