The
highest decision-making organ of the Igbo socio-political organisation,
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Imeobi Ohanaeze, has faulted the declaration of Indigenous
People of Biafra, IPOB, as a terrorist group by the Nigerian military.
The Imeobi stated this in a 9-point communique
it issued at the end of its meeting on Saturday at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel
Enugu.
The communique was signed by Ohanaeze President
-General, John Nwodo, and Secretary-General, Uche Okwukwu.
The military had two days ago declared the
pro-Biafran separatist group, IPOB, a terrorist organisation after clashes
between security operatives and the IPOB members in Aba and Umuahia which led
to many injuries.
The clashes followed the launch of operation
python dance II by the Army in the South-east region.
The clashes also made the South-east governors
proscribe the Nnamdi Kanu-led secessionist group on Friday. The governors
meeting in Enugu was attended by the Ohanaeze and the Deputy Senate President,
Ike Ekweremadu.
But the Imeobi in faulting the military’s
declaration argued that the defence headquarters did not follow due
process.
“That Imeobi resolved that IPOB is not a
terrorist organization. There are processes under extant national and
international laws, especially the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011, as Amended in
2015 to determine whether a group is or not a terrorist organisation”, the
communique said.
The
group also described as regrettable the decision of the Nigerian Army to
commence Operation Python Dance II in the South East and called for immediate
termination of the exercise.
It further argued that military option is never
a solution to problem of nation-building.
“We refer for instance to the goings on in
Spain, Scotland and other parts of the world to reaffirm that only through
dialogue can the national question be resolved. Consequently, we condemn all
acts of violence in pursuance of freedom of expression”, the group said.
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