The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, has urged people of the South-East to embrace dialogue and peaceful engagement in addressing the imprisonment of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
She made the call on Wednesday at the 14th Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Day Celebration held at the Ojukwu Memorial Library in Owerri.
Ojukwu noted that although a court of first instance had sentenced Kanu to imprisonment, hope remains for his release through constructive engagement.
She stressed that violence, anger or internal conflict would not resolve the issue, adding that meaningful dialogue remains the most effective approach.
She encouraged South-East residents to use the Christmas season to interface with their National Assembly members and governors on steps toward securing Kanu’s freedom from the Sokoto Correctional Centre. She also urged collective planning on how to meet President Bola Tinubu to seek an amicable resolution.
The annual memorial event, instituted by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, founder of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra, draws Igbo people from across the region and beyond.
During her address, Ojukwu called for a minute silence in honour of the late BBC journalist, Mr Frederick Forsyth, noting his dedication to reporting events during the Nigeria–Biafra civil war.
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She expressed concern that many Igbo children no longer speak their mother tongue, lamenting that parents often fail to teach them the language. She emphasised the importance of mother tongue in shaping a child’s identity and upbringing.
Ojukwu also decried rising insecurity in the South-East, stressing that kidnapping and killings were alien to Igbo culture even during the civil war. She appealed to youths to be patient and embrace peace, describing dialogue as the surest path to progress.
She recalled that her late husband, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, lived in exile for many years after the war but ultimately gained unconditional pardon through peaceful channels under the administration of former President Shehu Shagari.
On the economic impact of insecurity, Ojukwu lamented low business activities in the region, worsened by the Monday sit-at-home and persistent attacks.
She said these challenges have forced foreign and local investors to abandon the area. In the past, investors from countries such as Cameroon, Ghana and Togo patronised the region, but many have since withdrawn.
Chairman of the occasion, Chief Ugwunna Ajaelu, also appealed for patience and diplomatic engagement, stressing the need for a unified effort to ensure that Kanu regains his freedom soon.
NAN
