Use political and diplomatic channels to address IPOB issues, lawmakers urge Tinubu

The House of Representatives encouraged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday to investigate political and diplomatic options for resolving the issues of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in order to put an end to the ongoing threat of instability in the nation’s South East.

In order to find a long-term solution to the problem, the House also asked the administration to speak with the political, traditional, and religious leaders in Ebonyi State and the South East.

The request came after Hon. Eze Nwachukwu of Ebonyi State’s resolution to stop the killings in the state’s Ebonyi/Ohaukwu federal constituency was considered.

Nwachukwu, who was presenting the motion, stated that on July 4, two people were killed and a number of others were injured by unidentified shooters in a market in the Ebonyi LGA.

The market leaders, he claimed, had complained and demanded increased protection in the region.

Despite the numerous attacks in the federal constituency, the congressman claimed, security organizations had not yet “adopted workable measures to abate further killing in the area”.

However, a petition by the legislator for Abia State’s Isiala Ngwa North federal constituency, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, asking President Tinubu to order the release of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kalu was unsuccessful.

In order to put an end to the killings in the south-east geopolitical zone, Onwusibe asked the House to pressure Tinubu into ensuring Kanu’s release.

He said that the House should regard it as a “way of releasing him (Kanu) so as to restore peace in the entire south east.” He stated: “The insecurity situation in the entire south-east is a result of the prolonged detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”

However, Hon. Abdullahi Halims, the deputy majority leader, forbade the House from looking into such issues since they were prejudicial.

“The amendment, as proposed by my colleague, for the release of a person in custody, is a constitutional matter and should not be brought before the floor of this house since it is in the court and (would be) subjudiced. Such issues are never resolved by a parliamentary decision but rather by the judiciary, he said.

However, the deputy speaker who spoke in favor of the amendment, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, emphasized that Onwusibe’s proposal was looking for a “amicable way” to secure Kanu’s release in his contribution.

“The motion moved by Ginger was to find an amicable way of resolving the issue with regards to Nnamdi Kanu and to possibly urge president to use any other diplomatic or political approach given that this is before the court to find a permanent resolution on this issue because those of us from the south-east, we know where the shoe is pinching us,” he said. And we are aware of the benefits you might derive from it, which will result in a favorable position in the southeast.

The amendment calls for us to implore the president to intervene diplomatically and politically to secure Nnamdi Kanu’s release so that the region can achieve permanent peace.

The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, called for a voice vote at this point but was unable to tell if there had been an affirmative or negative vote.

“Honorable coworkers, I am unable to determine which side has won. So, we’ll put the (proposed amendment) on hold until the very end. I’ll give others a chance to make their amendments, he said.

In a similar vein, Hallim’s viewpoint was supported by the top whip of the House, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, who stated that the matter was before the court in his contribution.

“We have no objections to anyone being released in Nigeria. Although every Nigerian is very valuable, let’s kindly respect our laws. We cannot talk about it,” he replied.