The Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has praised the judiciary for ordering the release of Igbo women who were arrested following their protest.
With their protest, they demanded the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement issued by its President General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, Ohanaeze Ndigbo said it was commendable that the judiciary allowed reason and respect for human rights to prevail.
“I salute the courage of the Imo State judiciary and the professionalism of the State Attorney General. Never again shall we Igbos at this critical time shoot ourselves again on the foot. No matter how provocative, incendiary and unruly IPOB may be, they are our children. Aggrieved children can sometimes lose their guard,” said Nwodo.
He urged Imo State government to demonstrate some restraint in the future.
He said: “Here are young people described as terrorists for daring to speak out in the face of degradation, marginalisation and inhuman treatment.
“While they are proscribed, Fulani herdsmen and their sponsors, Meyetti Allah, move about freely reeling out new threats, occupying Southern and Middle Belt farms forcibly with the law enforcement agents either aiding them or intentionally looking away.
“Churches are invaded, priests killed, yet no one is arrested. Thousands are killed, thousands are rendered homeless, no one cares. IDPS are established only when the displaced come from a favoured section of the country,” he said.
Nwodo noted that Boko Haram loot, plunder, kidnap but the government negotiated with them spending unappropriated and undisclosed sums.
Yet, he said, IPOB was proscribed for just speaking up.
He said Arewa youths spoke treason and were defended by governors and treated with privilege.
“No wonder our security chiefs are appointed on the basis of where they come from. Any Igbo who is not angry at the situation in the country today must have his head re-examined.
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“Now, they contemplate Operation Python Dance 3 without dealing with the carnage of Operation Python Dance 2 where UN rules of engagement were flagrantly violated. Who won’t be angry under these circumstances,” he added.
The Ohanaeze leader admonished Governor Rochas Okorocha not to allow his anger at IPOB’s verbal provocations override his paternity.
He told him: “Borrow a leaf from me. I am abroad and emerging from theatre for a mild surgery and I have read how it is being said that Ohanaeze and the South East governors masterminded you to detain our sisters, but the false propaganda did not stop me from directing Ohaneze Publicity Secretary from condemning the detention.
“The provocation, double standards, and subjection to servitude far outweigh the denigration their false propaganda subject us to.”
Nwodo warned against over stretching the peoples endurance limit.
“May our endurance not be stretched to the point where it challenges Hooke’s law on elastic limit,” he said.
