COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE IGBO WORLD ASSEMBLY (IWA) AFTER AN EMMERGENCY MEETING, HELD ON SUNDAY, 5TH JULY 2021.
IWA is the umbrella organization of Ndiigbo in the Diaspora and Worldwide. The IWA core purpose is the protection and promotion of Igbo interests in economic, political, socio-cultural, and educational affairs. The members of IWA covers all continents of the world. The IWA country leaders from around the world had an emergency meeting on July 5, 2021 and having reviewed the abduction of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in a foreign land and his detention in Nigeria; and after considering carefully the high rate of insecurity in Nigeria, massive agitation from all parts of Nigeria; ongoing killing, rapping and destruction of farms and properties by Fulani Cattle Herdsmen/Miyetti Allah; IWA adopted the following resolutions:
Loading ...1. That Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be released immediately and unconditionally as his further detention is unacceptable. The current situation whereby Southern Nigerians agitating for a free homeland are killed, arrested and detained, while Cattle Herdsmen/Miyetti Allah that kill our people and rape our women are protected can no longer be tolerated. That the abduction of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu cannot silence or end the agitation as the root cause for agitation remains unattended i.e., allowing the Nigerian people to decide their fate or live-in freedom.
2. That the very existence of the IPOB, Sunday Igboho’s group and many other such group is a response to the present Nigerian administration treatment of Nigerian indigenous ethnic groups. The Federal Government can use brutal force to arrest individuals but cannot arrest the people’s agitation, and the will of the people cannot be arrested and suppressed by force however, negotiation could bring lasting solution.
3. That it is not a crime for anyone or group to express intention to leave any country peacefully and be on their own homeland without intending to occupy others.
4. That the Federal Government of Nigeria should negotiate with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other Southern Nigerian and Middle Belt Nigerian stakeholders on how to allow Nigerians to decide what type of country they want to be in.
5. That failing to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other political prisoners regardless of their ethnicity is nothing but declaring war on the Nigerian indigenous ethnic groups especially those in the Southern and Middle belt of Nigeria. And any harm to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu may lead to unintended consequences to the corporate existence of Nigeria. While not all the Igbos or all Southerners are members of IPOB, we are all members of Nigerian Indigenous Ethnic Groups who feel the same pain.
6. That IWA wishes to emphasize, that under the circumstances, the unambiguously acceptable solution and path is one predicated on the restructuring of Nigeria with a new federal constitution or separation. Any of the path is fair to all and established without prejudice to any of the Nigerian Indigenous Ethnic Groups. It is the common meeting locus at which any entity working for the dignified identity, survival and progress of the Nigerian people will arrive. Nigerians do not need to be like Rwanda before findings a lasting solution.
7. That IWA calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria, State Government, Nigerian Indigenous Ethnic Groups, International Community and Nigerians at home and abroad to courageously do everything possible to bring all stakeholders to the negotiation table.
8. IWA states that Nigeria needs to undertake and promote high-level ethno-political consultations, negotiations, dialogues, peace talks and other consensus-building strategic meetings, designed to serve, as result-oriented channels for nurturing Nigeria’s unity, peace, political stability and ethno-regional integration
9. That IWA, after due consideration of the complex set of situations and conscious of the urgent need to salvage the situation and raise a beacon of hope for Nigerians, further advice the Federal Government that:
· Nigerian Federal Government’s failure to embrace restructuring with a new federal constitution tied to true federalism is leading various sections of Nigeria to go their separate ways or seek self-determination.
· The use of force to settle differences may force the Nigerian Indigenous Ethnic Groups to go their separate ways. Neglecting the challenges and resorting to the use of force and coercion to stop Nigerian Indigenous Ethnic Groups from agitation for self-determination may lead the Nigerian Indigenous Ethnic Groups to jointly request for other options. We need a serious dialogue amoung all the ethnic nationalities for Nigeria to continue its existence.
· The AK47 carrying Cattle Herdsmen should be declared terrorists.
· The Federal Government must as a matter of urgency, demonstrate leadership and thread the path to restore security, normalcy, and freedom of expression in Nigeria.
· The Nigerian Government has not been able to establish a proof of IPOB killing of innocent citizens compared to number of people killed by Fulani Cattle Herdsmen/Miyetti Allah and why is IPOB deemed a terrorist group and Cattle Herdsmen/Miyetti Allah not so considered.
· IWA applauds and agrees with the Communique issued by the Southern Governors after their Lagos meeting dated July 5th, 2021.
· IWA affirmed our commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and amongst its people through a national dialogue. Not by force or coercion.
· IWA promotes unity, build peace and stimulate harmonious co-existence among Nigerians, while promoting advocacy for Nigeria’s return to true federalism and construction of a new federal constitution, which guarantees equal rights, treatments, privileges and opportunities for all citizens and component regions.
Finally, IWA wants to see that justice is done in this case by releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other political prisoners unconditionally, allowing Nigerians to decide their fate while the Government focuses on addressing massive insecurity, unemployment, hunger, poverty and other challenges. Nigeria can only be saved in one form or the other, devoid of the current structure and 1999 constitution; through a negotiation that allows Nigerians to express their will and discuss their peaceful co-existence based on equity, respect and fairness.
