By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has taken a swipe on Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, for saying that the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu may not end insecurity in the South East.

Recall that the governor made the statement during a recent interview on Arise TV talk show programme, ?Frank Talk?, where he spoke extensively on security in the state and the way forward.

But IPOB in a statement made available to journalists by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful on Monday said that Soludo?s statement appears to show someone pitching his tent firmly with those politicians who are against the release of its leader.

According to the group, the statement not only defies logic, given the governor's own previous antecedents in calling for Kanu's release, but it is equally "counter".

The statement reads in part: ?If we are led to believe, as the governor inferred in his interview on Arise TV, that those allegedly perpetuating insecurity in our blessed land are doing so on the purpot that they want Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu released, would it not make sense therefore to seek his release and in so doing, call the bluff of these misguided individuals or at very least deny them any cover or legitimacy. That is why the statement made by Gov. Soludo is capable of being misread and misunderstood as being in conflict with common sense.

?If criminals are hiding under the name of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB to commit any offence, then common sense dictates that if Onyendu is released, nobody would hide under his name or that of IPOB to commit any crime or do anything untoward. Any criminal or criminals hiding under his name will be flushed out or be exposed and those operating in their own name will be driven out of our land.

?We thought that this approach was in line with the much touted non-kinetic initiative championed by the governor himself. Why then did the governor deviate and start sounding like a propagandist or spokesman of the Nigerian Army; that institution that is always looking for justification to kill or incarcerate yet more innocent Igbo young men and women.

?We must ask, is the governor unaware of the pathological hatred some Nigerian security agencies have towards the people of Biafra, especially those exercising their constitutional right to self determination.

?With the greatest respect, His Excellency was domiciled in Abuja at the peak of the killer herdsmen reign of terror in Igboland and entire east. So he was unable to grasp the magnitude of the problem at that time, the shame Igbo race had to endure and what it took IPOB through ESN to bring it to an end.

?If the same person, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu that brought to an end the full-scale invasion, slaughter and humiliation of the Igbo race at the hands of these killer herdsmen from the Sahel that were rampaging unchecked through our forests, farmlands and villages a few years back, the same Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will surely end insecurity in the South-East and beyond.

?If there is any other ulterior motive guiding the reluctance of South-East governors to frontally seek the release of Onyendu in accordance with their public pledge, then South-East Governors Forum should be brave enough to come out and tell the public.

?We make bold to reiterate the commitment our leader made during one of his outings in court, by way of a challenge to those that doubt the potency of our worldwide movement, that if Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is released and insecurity does not cease in its entirety within 2 weeks only, IPOB shall cease to exist. This is how bold and confident we are in demonstration of our utter repudiation of anything that may bring or cause hardship to be brought upon the people of Biafra.?

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