By Hadiza Suleman
The United States Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVIDUSA), weekend, demanded the immediate restructuring of Nigeria in line with its 1960/63 regional autonomy to avert the country’s risks of total collapse.
The group also called on the federal government to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. He is being detained at the headquarters of the Department of State Services in Abuja. He is accused of terrorism.
AVIDUSA stated this in a letter entitled “Return Nigeria to 1960/63 Regional Autonomy or Risk Total Collapse”. It was signed by its president, Chief Dr. Sylvester Onyia, and secretary, Dr Godson Obiagwu.
The letter read in part, “The United States Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVIDUSA) believes that a return of Nigeria to 1960/63 regional autonomy is the only way to mitigate Nigeria’s socio-economic and security problems.”
The group recalled that in 2017, shortly after Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was freed from detention, the late Prof Ben Nwabueze, Evangelist Elliot U. Uko, and the South-East governors met in Enugu to discuss the demands of the Biafran people.
The group added that on August 30, 2017, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu made some germane demands before the South-East governors, chaired by Engr Dave Umahi.
Kanu’s demand, according to the veterans, were to make Enugu a grade one international airport to enable people in different parts of the world to easily fly in without having to stop over first in any part of Nigeria.
Quoting the group, “Kanu demanded that the River Niger be dredged to reduce the heavy loss of importation which our people who dominate the sector painfully bear.
“He also demanded that Owerri airport which our people contributed money to build in the days of Governor Sam Mbakwe be upgraded to a functional cargo airport. He equally demanded that Port-Harcourt seaports be made to operate in full capacity so that big ships can berth in them.
“MNK demanded the revival of all moribund industries in the South-East and South-South to provide job opportunities for thousands of our youths and graduates from higher institutions.”
Kanu, according to the letter, had reiterated that if the governors failed to address these problems, “Biafrans will demand a referendum on their status as foreigners in Nigeria”.
Prof Ben Nwabueze, it would be recalled, had informed Kanu that Nigeria was better off under the 1960/1963 Constitution.
AVIDUSA stated that Kanu, out of respect for Prof Nwabueze, consented to restructuring along 1960 to 1963 Constitution, regretting that two weeks after the proposal, “Nigerian government
security agents broke into his home in Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North, Abia State of Nigeria, and killed twenty-eight persons.”
The group said some people calling Kanu names and “even calling him a terrorist” did not know what MNK
stood for.
According to the group, “Many lives were lost when Biafrans imprisoned in all government detention facilities across Nigeria, some of them were shot and killed, but no account of their deaths was provided just because they were Biafrans. His parents died because they were unable to withstand the shock.
“In light of the fact that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is still being held without authorization, both the North and the South have agreed that Nigeria should be restructured.”
The group said the East is proud of the South-East Development Commission, adding that “It wasn’t accidental;
rather, it was the outcome of the very change agitation that the IPOB and its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, supported. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu defends human kind in battle. Release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu now!”
