Explaining the efforts of clerics so far to cool down tempers among the populace, Archbishop Ebelechkwu siad that “I have earlier called all these leaders of IPOB, MASSOB , about five groups in all and the leaders of CAN in the South East discussed with them and advised them to pursue the path of peace and dialogue. It is saddening to hear that after all our interventions, the Nigerian Government has not respected either our mediation and that of other leaders which has helped to bring peace by playing with the release of Kanu”
The hate speeches associated with Radio Biafra also got the attention of the cleric who described them as vulgar. According to Archbishop Ebelechukwu“ the words Nnamdi Kanu uses is too vulgar, in my own view, but he is yet to commit any act of violence against anybody anywhere in Nigeria, as such there is no reason for keeping him behind bars especially after the courts have said otherwise”
Archbishop Ebelechkwu asked the DSS and other relevant agencies not too exacerbate the security situation in the South East with the politics of bail and release. He also advised the members of IPOB and MASSOB not to allow miscreants and agents of violence to hijack their peace postures.
Igbo Mandate Congress had led a delegation to consult with the leader of the Christian community in the South East on ways of ensuring that the zone is not turned into a theater of war. Rev Akukwe in his response asked the Archbishop to continue with his peace efforts which had brought about temporary lull in the zone. Akukwe also described the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu as a time bomb and promised that IMC will continue pressure for Nnamdi Kanu’s unconditional release through its contacts.
In another development the Director General, Rev Obinna Akukwe has condemned the bail conditions which Nnamdi Kanu refused to accede to as precondition for his release. Addressing a group of clerics drawn from all denominations who embarked on a seven-day prayers for peace and progress in the South East after the shooting of nine protesters at Onitsha on December 2nd, Rev Akukwe described the bail conditions as leprosy infested. He said that “Igbo leaders intervention should be heeded and Nnamdi Kanu released. The bail conditions should not be negotiated behind bars. When Kanu comes out, Igbo leaders and clerics will talk with him, but to ask him to sign such is not acceptable.”
The clerics had invited theleaders of IMC to close their seven day prayers and fasting at Enugu on Saturday. They also gave him a copy of a classified document on how Biafra can be achieved. This document titled ‘ God’s Time Table for the Actualization of Biafran State’ a catalog of steps towards achieving a sovereign state of Biafra as revealed to them during the prayer session. Rev Akukwe promised to go through the documents and respond within he next thirty days.
The group of clerics who wished to be out of the spotlight for the meantime, closed the fasting by offering prayer for the deliverance of Ndigbo from infrastructural deficit and bad leadership. They prayed for the peace of Nigeria and success of the FG anti corruption policies, including return and of looted funds. They prayed for the repose of souls of the over fifteen IPOB members murdered by soldiers at Onitsha on three different occasions. They also prayed for consolation for families of Shiite Muslims murdered in Zaria by Nigerian soldiers
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