A United Kingdom based human rights lawyer, Mr Paul Onuachalla, on Monday said that the recent visit of Anambra Governor Prof. Charles Soludo to leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the DSS facility in Abuja is a step in the right direction.
Onuachalla who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Awka the state capital said that the move was capable of bridging the information gap between the agitators and politicians.
According to Onuachalla, “Both agitators and politicians in the area are pushing for the same thing, but in different ways.
“The two groups want better government and enhanced living standard for the people”, he said.
He said though the agitators before now demanded for referendum, their position should be narrowed for inclusive and true democracy.
Onuachalla said there was the need for the Federal Government to heed to the request for Kanu to speak out on the ongoing sit-at-home, kidnapping and killings in the South-East being attributed to his group.
“If he is allowed to make his position known, that might help to nip the problem in the bud.
“I personally know Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and I have advised him on a number of issues. I however do not believe that he would be in support of any such activity that would cripple socio-economic activities in the South-East.
“If my opinion would count, let the Federal Government allow him access to speak with the media as well as grant him freedom to tackle some of these problems which is adversely affecting Igbo people”, he said.
Onuachalla said it was becoming evident that some infiltrators were behind the breakdown of law and order in the South-East now being attributed to Kanu’s group.
“For instance, Kanu’s matter is coming up on may 18, and people who claimed they are for Kanu are calling for three days sit-at-home starting from today Monday May 16.
“If you also match the position of this group with the attacks in Idemili North Local Government Area, Onitsha and Umunze areas today, you will appreciate the fact that some people are using Kanu’s name for sinister motive”, he added.