By Our Reporter
The Anglican Archbishop of Enugu Episcopal Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel O. Chukwuma, Thursday, begged President Muhammadu Buhari to soften his had stand on Igbo youths over Biafra described the recent pro-Biafra protests as “misguided and misdirected.”
Chukwuma, who is also the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, spoke to journalists at his Bishop’s court in Enugu.
The Church leader 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.”
“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”, he added.
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.”
