Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general elections, Peter Obi, has declared that they want a better Nigeria where children will not have regrets.
This is even as prominent lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order immediate release of the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
They spoke at the Handshake Across The Niger 2, a project of Nzuko Umunna in Enugu yesterday.
Ozekhone expressed sadness that a Nigerian court ordered the release of Kanu but the federal government filed for a stay of that.
Ozekhome, who is the lead counsel for the IPOB leader, said Kanu never jumped bail as was erroneously bandied by the federal government.
He said, Kanu rather escaped to save his life, which was heavily under threat during the invasion of his home by armed soldiers.
He said, “We are telling the federal government that this is not proper. Set this man free. Nnamdi Kanu is not well. He has ear pains. The DSS doctors have confirmed that he is not doing well health wise but they will still not allow him access to his own private doctor.
“We have told the Supreme Court to do the needful. The case has been adjourned till 11th of May.
“Please sir, on my bended knees, you can order the release of Nnamdi Kanu today. You can do it through the attorney general of the federation who has the power to discontinue the case.
“You don’t have to wait for the Supreme Court decision before you do the right thing. For the information of those harbouring the thought that it was an illegality or unconstitutionality, his self determination agitation is in line with Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948); African Charter of Human and People’s Rights; Article 3&4 of United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (2007) among others”.
Peter Obi, commended the Nzuko Umunna headed by former minister of power, Prof. Chinedum Nebo, for their initiate in trying to engineer good governance and ensure peaceful and harmonious coexistence between the Igbo and other Nigerians.
“All we want is a better Nigeria, where our children will live without regrets, where son of nobody will rise to any position he worked for on merits.
“We must continue to work until Nigeria becomes what all of us want if not, if we don’t do something, it will consume all of us. Anarchy knows no class. Once it sets in, it will consume everybody”, Obi said.
The Tor Tiv and chairman of Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Orchivirigh Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, said the Handshake Across The Niger by Nzuko Umunna is what Nigerians everywhere need to do.
He said, “The challenge of Nigeria is the failure to build bridges. Nzuko Umunna is drawing us to something very important that we have failed to do overtime”.
He called for self-examination, justice, equity and fairness in trying to build bridges of peace across the country, calling on all people of goodwill to support what the group is doing because Nigeria needs it.
Newly inaugurated president of Nzuko Umunna, Prof Nebo, explained that the group’s major focus would be the economic integration of the South East and Igbo speaking areas.
“We will work with Ohanaeze Ndigbo to provide channels for cohesive engagement. We will do our best to do heavy lifting in areas of Economic Integration, Health and Education advocacy and sustaining National alliance with our partners.
“Handshakes Across Nigeria is a channel for the continuous engagement of our partners in the New Nigeria project and we shall continue to oil this vehicle,” he said.
