Malami must meet this lists and conditions before Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho come out for dialogue with Buhari
The 86-year-old leader of the group Renowned
Professor of History, Banji Akintoye, said the regime of President Buhari must
first ensure the release of Igboho from a prison in neighbouring Benin Republic
before talking about any “political solution”.
He was reacting to a statement made by the
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami
(SAN), that the Federal Government might consider all kinds of solutions,
including political ones, in order to resolve the crisis surrounding separatist
agitations in Nigeria.
Malami had made the statement in an
interview aired on ‘Arise TV Special’ on Wednesday.
Secessionist
agitations in Southern Nigeria
Of late, growing dissatisfaction,
disaffection, and perceived injustice have fueled secessionist agitations in
Southern Nigeria. While Igboho is an arrowhead of Yoruba Nation agitation in
the South-West zone, embattled Nnamdi Kanu leads the proscribed secessionist
group, the Indigenous People of Biafra in the South-East.
Kanu, who is in the custody of the
Department of States Service since his arrest in June 2021, is facing
terrorism-related charges before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court
in Abuja.
On the other hand,
Igboho, whose Ibadan home was raided on July 1, 2021, around 1am, has been in a
detention facility in Cotonou since July 19, 2021. Two of his aides were killed
by the DSS during the midnight raid. The agitator went underground after he was
declared wanted by the secret police but he was reportedly arrested by the
Interpol at the Cotonou airport at the behest of the Buhari government. Igboho
was apprehended while he tried to escape to Germany.
When asked whether Mr Buhari
government was considering “political solution” to resolve the secessionist
agitations in the country,
Malami said, “As far as
the security situation is concerned and as far as governance and this
administration is concerned, you cannot rule out all possibilities. But crime
is a crime; there are criminal undertones associated with certain conducts, you
cannot away the rights of the government to take steps with particular regards
to ensuring that the people are brought to book.”
“We will look into it
(approach) for the purpose of looking at its weight, the authenticity of it,
the good faith associated with it and then bring about the considerable factors
relating to the negotiations or otherwise.
.
We are
focused on Yoruba Nation agitation, says Ilana Oodua
“Our position is that
Malami should clarify himself. However, Igboho has not committed any offence
and there has not been any charge from the Nigerian government against Igboho
in the court.
“We are focused on our agitation.
However, if the Nigerian Government open up to dialogue on how we can
peacefully actualise our aim, we are open to it. The release of Igboho will
also be part of the negotiation. If we want to have that discussion, Igboho has
to be on the seat in the dialogue meeting.”
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