World Igbo Summit seeks autonomy for regions, Kanu's release

Eminent Igbo leaders have expressed their support for the grow­ing demand for regional autonomy to facilitate Nigeria’s economic and political de­velopment.

They asserted that the time had come for the Fed­eral Government to recog­nise the inalienable rights of the constituent regions of Nigeria to self-determi­nation and regional autono­my as contained in the 1960 Independence Constitution and 1963 Republican Con­stitution.

At a press conference to mark the end of the well-at­tended World Igbo Summit at the Goodluck Jonathan Auditorium, Gregory Uni­versity, Uturu, Abia State, Igbo leaders also demanded the release of the In­digenous Peoples of Bia­fra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu.

Their views were con­tained in a communique signed by the Chairman of the Summit, Senator Ike Nwa­chukwu, former Old Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chukwue­meka Ezeife, Col. Joe Achuzia (rtd), Chief Francis Ojih, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Prof George Obiozor, Dr Greg Ike Ibe, Iyom Josephine Anenih and Dr Joe Nwaogu.

The South East leaders called for a repeal of the 1999 Constitution.

They said that a new con­stitution for the country was long overdue.

The Summit noted that since the Biafran agitators are not a threat to national secu­rity, the Federal Government should promptly release their leader (Kanu) and all other prisoners of conscience in line with the rule of law.

The Summit, which took place at the Gregory Universi­ty Uturu, Abia State, between October 27 and October 30, 2016, brought together the great minds of Ala Igbo to di­alogue and design a strategic roadmap for growth and de­velopment for the South East.

The participants evolved a 50-year development plan for the region. The document gave details of how to achieve sus­tainable development of the Igbo nation through wealth re­patriation and reinvestment in the South East by all the Igbo across the globe.

The Summit, whose theme was “Visioning the Igbo Na­tion in 2066”, was co-chaired by Nwachukwu, Ezeife, Achu­zia, Oji and Iwuanyanwu.

Other Igbo leaders and their counterparts from the South-South geo-political zone, who attended the Sum­mit, included the Obi of Onit­sha, His Royal Majesty Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, Prof. Joe Irukwu, Prof. George Obiozor, Prof. Ihechuk­wu Madubuike, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr. Greg Ibe, Iyom Josephine An­enih, Chief Simon Nsobundu Okeke, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna and Prof. Maurice Iwu.

Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano was represent­ed by the Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke. The governor commended the World Igbo Summit Group and the Igbo Renaissance Centre of Gregory University, Uturu, for coming out with a realistic 50-year de­velopment plan for the region.

The Summit said that since Ndigbo have made the big­gest sacrifices and contribu­tions to the building of mod­ern Nigeria, the time had come for them to work for a nation where the Igbo are allowed to live and operate as equal citi­zens without any discrimina­tion, bias or intimidation.

The Summit also resolved to take full responsibility for the rebuilding of Igbo econ­omy and development and to adopt the digital economy as the organising paradigm and implementation framework for its sustainable develop­ment.

It also said that in line with the recent resolution of the Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly, the National As­sembly and State Assemblies should make laws prohibiting open grazing by herdsmen. The participants, however, opposed the establishment of grazing reserves and ranches with public funds.