By MATTHEW KALU, Umuahia

As Igbo leaders continue to mount pressure on the federal government to release detain Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a prophet, Ikem Okoyedike, Ezeudo Awkuzu, has predicted that the Biafran freedom fighter may soon regain his freedom.

Okoyedike, who is the Prophet of Igweagu Igbonine, a group comprising Igbo children (males and females) born from 1970 to 1976, with a divine mandate to bring about the birth of a new Igbo nation, said Kanu’s release was imminent, even though how and when it take place is unknown.

Igweaku Igbonine, which has its roots in 1968, was renamed Ndi Igbo Royal Ordained Heritage (NIROH) in 1996.

The male members of Igweagu Igbonine are christened Odum while their female counterparts are called the Ikporo.

Okoyedike, who spoke in Umuahia during a recent meeting of NIROH in Umuahia, which also featured the inauguration of Ikporo chapter.

The Ezeudo said it was not clear to him how Kanu would be regain his freedom but that he was convinced that the IPOB leader would grace his Igu Aro festival in February next year as a free man.

“I don’t know how this will happen but I am convinced that nothing will stop the IPOB leader from being physically present during my Igu Aro festival next year February,” Ezeudo said.

He explained that Igweagu Igbonine emerged from a 1968 prophecy which said that Igbo children born after the civil war, at their golden age, would work to unite Ndigbo and make the people to speak with one voice.

According to him, NIROH, established to coordinate the Ezumezu Ndigbo, was working towards being the Oracle for the creation of Igbo Kingdoms in every country of the world, adding that the reason for creating such Kingdoms worldwide was to restore the dignity and heritage of Igbo man wherever he finds him or herself in the world.

Ezeudo also revealed that the Udogu People's Right initiative, sub group of Igweagu Igbonine, would soon start work and would be saddled with the responsibility of protecting the rights of Igbo people anywhere in the world.

It was gathered that it was in the bid to actualize the Igbo nation agenda of the 1968 prophecy that a royal movement was launched in 1996.

That movement culminated in the crowning of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Ikemba Nnewi) as Eze Igbo Gburugburu on May 4, 1996.

In 2012, the royal movement was named Ndi Igbo Royal Ordained Heritage (NIROH), established to coordinate Ezumezu Ndigbo.

Igweagu became known as Igweagu Igbonine on December 1, 2016 when the 12 Odums (of which Ezeudo is the only one serving) and seven Ikporos met at Ifitedunu General Hospital in Dunokofia local Government Area of Anambra State and nominated coordinators.

The current responsibility of Igweagu Igbonine is to find the first political actor of Igbo origin that shall pay homage to the king of Lilu Mbalagu in Ihiala, Anambra who shall be the Ebubeagu that will lead Igweagu Igbonine to accomplish its task.

Currently, Igweagu Igbonine is searching out for three distinct persons who would play significant roles in realizing the 1968 prophecy, including the Ebubeagu, the chosen one that would lead Igwaegu Igbonine; Odum ririeze, the first crowned Igweagu by Gburugburu Ministry Forum of the group from 1996, and Akajiugo, the first Igweagu to officially recognise the movement.

Ezeudo explained that the essence of inaugurating the Ikporo arm of Igweagu Igbonine in Umuahia was to enable the women join in the ongoing search for the Igweagu Igbonine distinct personalities.

•Prophet Ikem Okoyedike with newly inaugurated Ikporo (female members of Igweagua Igbonine)

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