The United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, unconditionally and to undertake a comprehensive restructuring of the country for genuine peace and development.
In a statement titled “New Governance Model for Nigeria,” signed by UNIEC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Prof. Obasi Igwe, and its Coordinator General, His Lordship Alpha Justice, the council outlined a five-point agenda aimed at fostering national unity and economic growth. The elders emphasized that meaningful progress in Nigeria could only be achieved through restructuring and the cessation of policies that marginalize certain regions, such as economic blockades against Eastern Nigeria.
The UNIEC highlighted the need for Nigeria to discontinue practices that condone terrorism and instead focus on ending economic restrictions along the Gulf of Guinea and restoring operational ports that existed before colonial rule. They stressed the importance of reviving the Eastern pole of development to promote semi-autonomous industrialization zones that were originally linked to northern riparian regions, advocating for the resolution of conflicts like the ongoing farmers-herders clashes.
According to the statement, “Restructuring, regionalism, and a fair referendum process are essential for establishing peace and stability in Nigeria. The restoration of the Eastern pole of development would not only benefit the Eastern region but also catalyze growth across the Middle Belt and further into North Central and North East regions.”
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The Igbo elders underscored the urgency of addressing the disparities in development between Lagos, with its functional port system, and other regions that are economically neglected. “The continuous blockade and underutilization of Eastern ports have caused significant economic setbacks not only in the East but throughout the country, including areas as far-reaching as Maiduguri,” the statement added.
UNIEC also called for an immediate halt to what they described as “orchestrated wars” against various Nigerian communities, acknowledging that while President Bola Tinubu’s administration was not responsible for the conflicts that escalated between 2015 and 2023, it now holds the power to end them. They specifically demanded the release of all political prisoners, including Nnamdi Kanu, and the cessation of unlawful detentions and extrajudicial actions against citizens.
The council argued that it is unjust for Nigeria to treat certain groups harshly while others, like terrorist factions, receive leniency. “Nigeria must be restructured to allow for both single nationality regions and multi-ethnic regions, determined by regional viability and competition. Without a correct political and economic foundation, even the most brilliantly formulated economic policies cannot succeed,” the elders noted.
