The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has revealed how Friday’s meeting of President Muhammadu Buhari with Igbo leaders and serving ministers to seek release of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was brokered.
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that an Igbo delegation led by First Republic Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi met with Buhari, on Friday where the president promised to consider their demand for Kanu’s release, even though the demand was heavy and has implications for the separation of power.
During an interview with Vanguard, Ngige said that Amechi initiated the meeting and he concurred to pursue the idea.
His words: “When Honourable Mbazulike initiated it and consulted me, we agreed that it is a worthwhile journey. Mbazulike was one of the three old wise men that worked with me when I was governor in Anambra State. When he came up with this request I decided also that it was a step in the right direction.
“He said that it is what will give him the last joy before he departs from this planet. So, I am happy to be involved in it. The President also said that being an old man of 93 years this request is very heavy even though it has some implications.
“I acted as a facilitator, he copied me the letter to Mr President and called me on the phone when he had not gotten any reply. With my own copy, I met Mr President.
“One of the things mentioned by Mbazulike Amechi is the heavy presence of security on South-East roads. The place is swamped with too many security men. It is not that we are against security men being there because there was a lot of killing by known and unknown gunmen, but we said that the security down there should be professional in the discharge of their functions just as they were during the elections.”
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