A coalition of Christian, traditional, and interfaith leaders representing the Igbo people asserts that the same antagonistic powers responsible for undermining the 1967 Aburi Accord remain active today. Speaking through Reverend Tony Uzor Anthony in Umuahia, these leaders argue that they are compelled by a moral obligation to protect their people against recurring betrayals.
The group compares current events to the 1967 crisis, where the Aburi Accord—which sought a confederal Nigeria to ensure regional autonomy—was distorted by British and military interests to frame Easterners as the aggressors. They contend that a similar pattern of propaganda is now being used to misrepresent the current political situation.
Addressing the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leaders maintain that the ESN was a necessary response to rising violence by bandits and herdsmen, following the military intervention triggered by Igbo governors and former Army Chief Tukur Buratai. They further reject the classification of IPOB as a terrorist organization, citing a lack of evidence for criminal activity and arguing that the legal proceedings against Kanu are fundamentally flawed.
The clerics explicitly criticize Igbo leaders who, they claim, have prioritized political standing over the safety of their people. By labeling Kanu’s supporters as terrorists and failing to address legitimate grievances, these figures are accused of serving external interests. The statement calls for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, describing him as a prisoner of conscience whose continued detention serves only to maintain the status quo. Finally, the religious leaders urge the Igbo public to reject misinformation and seek a genuine restructuring of the Nigerian federation.
