BIAFRA: Igbo Leaders Makes U-turn Demands For Nnamdi Kanu’s Release30th October 2016 Biafra No commentsIgbo Leaders Demand Nnamdi Kanu’s Release, Say South East Committed to One NigeriaNdigbo at home and abroad ended a three-day summit in Abia on Saturday with a call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, and others it tagged ‘prisoners of conscience’ inNigeria.The 2016 World Igbo Summit, organised by the World IgboSummit Groupin collaboration with the Igbo Renaissance Centre of the Gregory University, Uturu (GUU), had Sen. Ike Nwachukwu as the chairman.In its 10-point communique on Saturday night, the summit urged the Federal Government torelease Kanu and other Biafran agitators in line with the Rule of Law “since they do not constitute a threat to national security.”The meeting restated the commitment of Ndigbo to work for a united Nigeria,where “Ndigbowould live andoperate as equal citizens,without any discrimination,bias or intimidation.”The communique, which was read by a co-chairman of the summit,Chief Sam Ohuabunwa, noted that “Ndigbo have made the biggest sacrifice and contributions to the buildingof a modern Nigeria.”The summit called for legislation by the state and national assemblies to prohibit nomadic grazing by herdsmen andestablish grazing reserves with public funds.It specifically called for legislation “against all forms of open grazing in Igboland”, on grounds that the activities of suspected herdsmen pose great danger to peace and security in the area.The summit further called for a review of the 1999 constitution torecognise the rights of each federating unitto self-determination and regional economy “as enshrined in the 1960 Independent Constitution and 1963 Republican Constitution.”Summiteers resolved “to take full responsibility for the rebuilding of Igbo economyand development of Igboland”, by adopting the digital economy “as the organisingparadigm and implementation framework.”Southeast governors were urged to establish a joint commission “for the development of Igboland and be supportive of true Igbo initiatives.”“Henceforth, the Igbo political leadership, whether elected or appointed, must act in the best interest of Ndigbo and beprepared to beheld accountable by the people for their actions and inactions.”The summit commended the contributions of Ndigbo in the Diaspora toward the achievement of the vision and urged them to “think home and invest home.”It expressed appreciation to the Chancellor of GUU, Dr. Gregory Ibe, and the management for setting up the Igbo Renaissance Centre toward the re-engineeringof Igbo growthand development.News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit, with the theme, “Igboka-Visioning the Igbo nation in 2016,” was aimed at producing a road map for economic growth and prosperity in the Southeast and other Igbo-speaking states of Nigeria.Among the dignitaries in attendance were former Nigeria’s Ambassador to U.S., Prof. George Obiozor, former Minister of Education, Prof. Ihechukwu Madubuike, former governor of Anambra, Dr. ChukwuemekaEzeife, and theChancellor of GUU.Other participants atthe summit were the former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Josephine Anenih, formerSecretary-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Col. Joe Achuzie (rtd.), the Director-General of the World Igbo Summit Group, Dr. IfediOkwenna, and representatives of various Igbo groups and associations.Also in attendance were the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, and the Chairman, Southeast Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Eberechi Dick, among other monarchs.Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra was represented atthe meeting by his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke.