By Kenneth Onuoha
365Daily – The Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, has lauded Prof. George Obiozor-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo for its “patriotic and constitutional stance on Nnamdi Kanu matter.”
Okechukwu said this on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, in Enugu while speaking on Ohanaeze’s constitution of a legal team to monitor the ongoing trial of Kanu, who is the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
According to him: “I think it is appropriate for Prof. Obiozor-led Ohanaeze to adopt patriotic, constitutional and democratic stance on our brother Nnamdi Kanu matter.
“I am in this page with Ohanaeze that due process of the law should be strictly adhered to, which they capped with setting up legal team to monitor the court proceedings.
“I salute their candour, unlike others who are sentimental,’’ he said.
Okechukwu, who is a founding member of Zikist movement, said some groups had already given Kanu a clean bill of health before the trail even commenced.
“But as a Zikist, who believes on harmonious and corporate Nigeria, it is pure sentiments,’’ he said.
Okechukwu, who is a foundation member of All Progressive Congress (APC), noted that Ohanaeze was highly matured on its statement that it is not averse to trial; but wants to ensure the fair trial of the IPOB leader.
“Like Ohanaeze, I identify with the grievances of Igbo youths on the marginalisation, menace of Fulani herdsmen, among others issues in the region.
“However, this is a phase in national development, which will not endure,’’ he assured.
When asked his position on Ohanaeze’s support for the Southern Governors on Anti-Open grazing, Okechukwu said: “My only disagreement is that the the Governors should make land available for ranching.
“Is it not paradoxical for Southern Governors who are signatories to the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) to now renage?
“My candid opinion and my understanding of the National Livestock Transformation Plan is that a State has the option of going into cattle, goat, sheep, even piggery ranching.
“And there is no law that says that the cattle ranch in the south must be manned by Fulanis. None to best of my knowledge. And ranching equipment is among the €885 million Agric-Equipment loan. That is the paradox.”
On the issue of rotation of presidency to the south, Okechukwu supported the position of Southern Governors, but warned of another paradox.
The VON DG noted that the paradox on the issue of rotation of president to the south remained the position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on rotation.
He said: “The report is a drawback for some us in APC. The PDP Report breached the party’s constitution by throwing the post open.
“It is more or less today an obstacle to the actualisation of rotation of presidency to the south.
“On one or two occasions in our meetings, when we push that it is indeed the turn of the South East, our members will remind us of the PDP Cat and Mouse Report, reminding us that Buhari will not be on the ballot in 2023 and that covertly, the PDP Report is primed for His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to harvest Buhari’s 12 million vote bank.’’
It could be recalled that Ohanaeze, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, has called for Kanu to be tried within the ambit of the laws of the country and in line with global best practices.
In a communiqué issued on Sunday, July 11, 2021, after its national committee meeting at the Ohanaeze national secretariat, Enugu, the apex sociocultural organisation said it was not averse to his trial.
It added that it had constituted a legal team led by its National Legal Adviser and eminent Igbo leaders to monitor the legal proceedings throughout the trial.