The Archbishop of the Enugu Ecclesiastical Province of the Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, Thursday described the recent pro-Biafra protests as “misguided, misdirected and against the general interest of Ndigbo.”
Chukwuma, who is also the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, spoke to journalists at his Bishop’s court in Enugu.
He pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to forgive Igbo youths for embarking on such protests.
He maintained that investigations showed that few selfish persons from Igbo land, both at home and in the Diaspora, were sponsoring the protests to achieve their personal motive and not necessarily to realize Biafra.
He stated that “agitation is nothing bad, but the Biafra agitation is misguided. We plead with the Federal Government not to see it as rebellion; on unity of Nigeria we stand, to keep Nigeria as one is a task that must be done.
“The Igbo nation is not ready for any form of secession; our people have invested across the country; they have businesses here and there and all these cannot be wasted.
“Biafra agitation is not our priority now; all we ask for is equity and justice.”
He described the agitation “as grievances being shown by our youths because of frustration. Many of them have been used by politicians and dumped. There is no federal presence in Igbo land; that is the major problem.
“In as much as President Buhari may say we did not vote for him, our people in APC supported him; it is not enough to say that he appointed ministers from Igbo land; it does not translate to infrastructural development; he should temper justice with mercy and forgive the shortcomings of our youths who are engaging in these protests.
“Our promise to him is that we shall surely tame these youths and redirect them appropriately. The President should not be vindictive.
“We, therefore, plead with Mr. President, that since he said he was for nobody but for everybody, it should be translated into action. The poor state of infrastructure, including the power and agricultural sector should be addressed”.
Speaking on the prolonged detention of Nnamdi Kanu, ArchBishop Chukwuma urged the President to release him unconditionally in obedience to court orders.
He stressed that “we are ready as church leaders to direct Kanu on the proper thing to do. He has not committed any act of felony; such charge is unacceptable; he has not imported arms.
“We plead with Mr. President to obey the order of court so that the international community can have respect for our country. Government should please forgive Kanu and forgive our recent agitations for Biafra”.
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