The IPOB leader insisted that unless those opposed to the holistic restructuring of Nigeria repented, his demand for a referendum to determine whether the people of Biafra would like to exit or continue as part of Nigeria remained sacrosanct.
Kanu’s position was conveyed to Vanguard by his younger brother, Prince Emmanuel, after meeting with him at his solitary confinement at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services, DSS.
He quoted Kanu as saying, “We are not averse to the genuine restructuring of the country. We know that the country cannot grow or make progress under the current unworking unitary structure. The facts are clear for all to see.
“Our position remains the same as our submission in the presence of Prof. Ben Nwabueze, and Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko on 30th August 2017 at the meeting with the South East Governors in Enugu. We have no reason to add or subtract from our position six years ago.
“We reiterate that we are not opposed to a consensual but wholesome restructuring of the country along the 1963 constitution.”
Kanu blamed those who disrupted an earlier attempt by the Federal Government in 2017 to reach a truce with him, for the current insecurity in the South East.
The unprovoked invasion of my family homestead on September 14th 2017, which led to the untimely death of dozens of citizens and inspired the demise of my parents, created the unsavoury atmosphere that engulfed the region moving forward.”
The IPOB Leader gave conditions for true reconciliation, insisting that the grossly marginalized South East and the entire Biafra land should be rebuilt and brought at par with other regions of the country.
Kanu specifically demanded the siting of a viable commercial seaport and functional cargo international airport in the South East to help revamp the economy of the region.
“Establishment of long denied critical infrastructure in our region. Commercial Seaport, International Airport with cargo wing, rail services and other deliberately denied infrastructure.”
