Invite Nnamdi Kanu, Ohanaeze tells Tinubu

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, on Sunday, expressed displeasure over the attack on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), by ex-militant leader, Asari Dokubo.

The group urged President Bola Tinubu to ignore the likes of Dokubo and invite Kanu for a round table discussion.

In a statement by its National President, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the group accused Dokubo of being sponsored by those who want to destabilise President Tinubu’s administration.

Dokubo had while speaking to journalists after a meeting with the president advised that Kanu should not be released.

Okwu said it was unthinkable that at a time many patriotic citizens of the country were thinking of ways to unite the country, Dokubo “who postures as a son of the President is busy throwing up ideas that would further polarise the country.”

He said: “We have always known Asari Dokubo as a rabble rouser who is not interested in the progress and prosperity of this nation.

“This is a man who had been in the creeks for years sabotaging the country’s economy. We all know what it is to sabotage the economy of a country- what other crime could be more than this? But curiously, the same man who claims to have repented, even when his boys are still in the creeks, has the temerity to brand Nnamdi Kanu a criminal.

“When did Asari Dobubo become a court of competent jurisdiction to decide who is a criminal? He has only taken his hatred for Ndigbo too far. Mr President made it clear that he is ready to unite the fragmented country he inherited from the past administration and he has been so much applauded for this.

“We urge Mr President to go ahead and not allow his administration to be derailed by hypocrites like Asari Dokubo who want to feed fat from any form of crisis in the country. Mr President should be wary of him and his sponsors who are enemies of the government.

“The Federal Government should do well to invite and engage Nnamdi Kanu and other agitators. They are fighting for justice and marginalisation. If the government could engage members of Boko Haram who have killed and maimed millions of people, it should not find it hard engaging the agitators.

“Mr President is one of those who vehemently fought in favour of democracy and justice in the past; he should give a listening ear to Nnamdi Kanu.”