The Presidency on Sunday said it does not recognise Nnamdi Kanu, the self-styled leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra(IPOB) as one of the leaders of the Igbos.
IPOB is the group at the forefront of the agitation for the actualisation of an Independent State of Biafra.
The special adviser to President Buhari on political affair, Mr. Babafemi Ojudu made the assertion while responding to questions on why Kanu was left out the meeting Igbo leaders of thought had with Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
Ojodu said, “Well, the thing is that we were looking for leaders of the people, leaders of thought and we do not see him as a leader of thought in the East. Maybe an opportunity will come at one time or the other for him to be engaged.”
“But so far, what we have done is to look at people who have influence in the communities, whether it is religious, whether it is traditional, whether it is political, social or governance. These are the people we brought in for discussion.”
“Nobody has tabled that in all the discussions we have had. Nobody, I can tell you. Ohanaeze came with a prepared document. They never talked about referendum. They never. They never even talked about secession.”
“They made complaints about police harassment at road blocks. They made complaints about losing some key positions, not being appointed into security positions and all those kinds of things.
“And these are things that can easily be addressed. Nobody canvassed secession at those meetings, nobody canvassed referendum.”
“So, for us, and that was the conclusion that everybody came to in the consultations we have had that we should all agree that we can live together peacefully.
“We should address injustice where we find it and the government should be equitable in the distribution of resources across the country snd then, find solution to youth unemployment and the frustration that is confronting most of the young people across this country.”
Ojodu noted that in all, the Southeast leaders were in agreement with the federal government that Nigeria should remain as one entity.
