By Bayo Davids
The Peace In South East Project (PISE-P) an initiative of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu to bring about peace in Igboland has said that its mission will not be complete without an advocacy for the release of the leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
On Boxing Day, dignitaries including the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, Ooni of Ife, Oba Oguwunsi Enitan among others gathered in Bende, Abia State to witness the launch of the PISE-P.
The initiative which adopts a non-kinetic approach to addressing the challenges of insecurity in the region has been described by eminent Nigerians including traditional rulers as a step in the right direction.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the PISE-P media team quoted IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful as calling on the programme to intensify efforts for Kanu’s release.
“The only peaceful meeting you can call is to call for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and for the United Nations to give us a referendum date for Biafrans to decide their fate either to stay in Nigeria or to restore Biafra Nation,” the statement quited Mr Powerful as saying.
The PISE-P expressed happiness that IPOB has eventually recognized its efforts in ensuring the return of peace to South-East.
“PISE-P cannot be complete without the core element of the advocacy to release our brother Nnamdi Kanu and we insist that conversations are going outside the public eyes to get him out whether conditionally or unconditionally. PISE- P will continue in our fight to achieve this because at the end, what matters is that we have peace in the region and yes, this is fundamental to our quest. On this point, we are on the same page with IPOB and nothing more.
“PISE-P received this press release with gladness because it means that a conversation has commenced on the issues affecting our people in the region.
“While thanking all the aggrieved ones in the South-East for the peace they maintained during the yuletide and the new year celebrations, the conveners of the peace project urge all interested groups including the IPOB to accept to sustain the peace they contributed to during the season. The benefits of peace cannot be over emphasised.
“While we encourage the government to embrace this non kinetic ways of solving our issues without bullets and guns which they have embraced, the people should reciprocate by being intentional in avoiding threats and comments that incite violence, hatred and bitterness.
“We are preaching no more guns and bullets and bloods of our brothers on the streets of the south east and to preach against it can only come from the real enemies of the south east.
“Violence, threats and fear as tools have not helped us to release Kanu. Let’s continue with this dialogue and the peace we all worked for our people to enjoy recently. Support and encourage peace anywhere and everywhere. It does not make anyone weak but makes everyone stronger. Don’t give up on peace. Let’s partner for peace, if not for anything for our brother to be released,” the statement read in part.
The team noted that Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency has no political interest but peace in the region, stressing that “He is not looking for anything especially when his South-East is in turmoil. Peace first begets political leadership or aspiration of any sort. Let’s keep our region peaceful and safe. We are fighting for the same interest of the region,” the statement added.
Noting that Kalu was only concerned by the security and the economic well being of his people, PISE-P also called for an end to the sit-at-home being observed in the region on Mondays, saying that productive hours are being lost.
The statement further read, “Kalu is leading from the front in finding solution to the hydra headed problem of insecurity in the region especially the sit at home on Mondays that has impoverished the people of the region. We will not understand the amount of hunger that is in the land because of the man hours lost on Mondays and how families, small scale businesses that the zone is known for, has been eating up their capital because they don’t have sufficient amount of days to be able to push their capital to the point of getting the desired return on investments.
“So, it calls for a concern especially when the impact of what is happening in the geo-economic region has a ripple effect across the board; in the other geo-economic regions. Kalu’s concern is the solution so that the people can go back to their farms, schools and markets on Mondays.
“Rest assured that people like Kalu are making moves behind the curtain for Kanu to be released but we appeal that we must be peaceful and improve the economic life of the South-East and end the sit at home. Once peace is returned to the region, we can be hopeful of our brother coming out faster than we expect it. Who likes his brother to be locked up?”
