Royal fathers in Abia State have requested President Muhammdu Buhari to unconditionally release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Director of Radio Biafra.
The monarchs made the request during a town hall meeting held on Friday, February 19, 2016 between the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, and stakeholders at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia. The custodians of the people’s culture also demanded for security vote to enable them contribute effectively to community policing in their domains.
Speaking on behalf of Abia Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Eze (Pastor) Philip Ajomiwe, enjoined Arase to “tell Mr President to release our son, Nnamdi Kanu.” Eze Ajomiwe, who is the Chairman of Umuahia North Council of Traditional Rulers and Traditional Ruler of Oriendu Autonomous Community, maintained that the unconditional release of Kanu would bring about peace in the land.
He said the monarchs were highly disturbed by the silence of Mr President on matters concerning IPOB and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Baifra (MASSOB).
The foremost traditional ruler and agriculturist pledged their commitment to ensuring peace and security in their domains but demanded that they should be provided with security vote since no one could catch an armed robber with bare hands.
Similarly, he made a case for proper equipping of the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force for optimum productivity.
He specifically mentioned that patrol vans and arms should be provided for officers and men of the police.
He said that the royal fathers were supportive of the President’s war against corruption and pledged their support to his administration.
Responding, the IGP promised to take the message of the royal fathers to President Buhari.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Arase canvassed a return to the traditional way of providing security in the villages before the arrival of the western form of policing.
“In Africa, we had traditional ways of policing our community but we failed to merge it with the modern form of policing. We have to go back to the basics,” Arase said.
He maintained that the police alone could not police the country without the active support of stakeholders.
Also speaking, Abia state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, disclosed that the state has presented 20 patrol cars to the IGP to equip the Police in the state to do its work well.
He said the donation marks the beginning of a working relationship between the state and the police with a view to securing the state. Arase was in Abia on a one-day working visit to Abia.
