The South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and some Christian clerics have urged the federal government to reverse the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
IPOB was proscribed as a terrorist group in 2017.
In a joint statement on Sunday, the monarchs and representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, also asked the government to release detained IPOB’s leader Nnamdi Kanu and all members of the group in detention.
Kanu, who is in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody since July, is standing trial over allegations bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.
“Flowing from similar initiatives taken to bring peace to other troubled parts of the country, we urge the Federal Government and other stakeholders to explore dialogue and negotiation in resolving critical issues that threaten national unity, cohesion and development,” the statement reads.
“Accordingly, we refer to our earlier request for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops and restate this call even more strongly.
“We are of the firm belief that this act of courage and statesmanship is not only imperative but will speedily de-escalate the heightened state of insecurity and dislocation in the South-East zone.
“We also urge President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and the Federal Government to take immediate steps to de-proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra and release all IPOB members being held in various detention facilities in Nigeria.”
The two groups also asked the government to demilitarise the zone and embrace dialogue as a means to quell the tension.
“It has become urgent, imperative and compelling to de-emphasise the military option and move towards finding a political solution that will lead to sustainable peace,” they said.
