Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT) have called on the federal government to unconditionally release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and address the infrastructure decay in the South-East.
The leaders also pointed out the need for Igbo unity, urging the new Ohanaeze leadership to resist external influences.
The resolutions were reached at an extraordinary meeting convened by Professor Elo Amucheazi, on January 31, 2025.
ILT stressed the importance of sustaining Igbo unity and praised the election of Senator John Azuta-Mbata, an Ikwerre man, as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
It said: “The meeting agreed that there must be serious sustainability of Igbo unity in all ramifications, especially what has been achieved by making an Ikwere man, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“ILT resolved to transcend the divisive exclusion of Ndigbo beyond the South East of Nigeria for the integration of all Igbo outside the South East and beyond.
“ILT congratulates the new Ohaneze President-General Senator John Azuta-Mbata and his team. It urges them to keep ndi Igbo first in all their programs. They should end the era of when outsiders from Igbo land dictate what happens in both Ala-Igbo and Ohaneze.”
The leaders further accused security agencies of targeting Igbo youths unfairly, referencing the EFCC’s actions in Awka and the government’s indifference toward Fulani herdsmen’s attacks.
“Igbo youths are being decimated in premeditated but orchestrated tendentious ways with impunity. EFCC torment mostly the Southerners while Northern boys ‘bury’ hard currency in filing cabinets in their farms or escape the shores of the country and nothing is being done about it.”
On infrastructure in the South East, ILT condemned the state of roads and railways, describing them as recklessly abandoned since 1970. The group cited the recent fatal accident at Ugwu Onyeama in Enugu, which claimed multiple lives.
“Road infrastructures in Ala-Igbo are recklessly abandoned. All roads and railways have been denied the East since 1970 and in some cases scrapped off. These dilapidations of the roads have led to uncountable and avoidable deaths on the roads.
“We urge the Federal Government to expedite actions in making the roads motorable and to remove the obstructive security checkpoints on the roads,” the leaders said.
They strongly condemned the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, pointing out that other separatist figures like Sunday Igboho and leaders of Miyetti Allah remain free.
“ILT has watched with keenness the happenings in the country especially as it relates to IPOB and its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. There is no doubt that under Muhammadu Buhari, Boko Haram, Miyetti Allah and Fulani Herdsmen held sway in the atrocious killings and sacking of many indigenous groups while a non-violent organization like IPOB was proscribed unjustly.
“ILT, having observed everything going on and in line with the will of our founding president Professor Ben Nwabueze (SAN), who had campaigned for his unconditional release, urges the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to unconditionally release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately. This will certainly lead to peace not only in the East but also in the whole of Nigeria,” they argued.
At the event, the ILT announced the appointment of new leaders to guide the organization. Professor Elo Amucheazi was named President, with Professor Barth Nnaji as Vice President, and Professor Jerry Chidozie Chukwuokolo as Secretary, pending full elections.
Additionally, His Majesty, Igwe Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, was appointed Leader and Patron, alongside Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
The Igbo leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for Igbo interests and ensuring that Ndigbo are treated fairly within Nigeria.
