The All Igbo Youth Forum, a pressure group, has warned that Igbo youths will boycott 2027 elections unless IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is released by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The National President of the Forum, Chief Chinedu Obilor, said that the group had shelved its planned protest over the issue following its discussion with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Kalu.
He said that the Kalu assured the Forum that discussions with the President on the IPOB leader’s release were ongoing.
“We believe the President will listen to the cry of Ndigbo and release Kanu,” Obilor said.
He stated clearly that the Forum’s position remains unchanged and “they cannot leave Nnamdi Kanu and be talking of 2027″.
Obilor said that the Forum would give the Deputy Speaker two more months to engage the President on Kanu’s release.
He insisted that Kalu must take the demand for Kanu’s release to the President urgently.
“If they fail, we will march 10 million strong to Abuja and dare them to jail us all,” he vowed.
He noted the release of other agitators and terrorists but wondered why Kanu remains in custody.
“If they feel they will use Nnamdi Kanu to do politics, we will not agree,” he said.
Obilor expressed the readiness of the group to mobilise millions to protest the continued detention of the IPOB leader.
“We’ll mobilise 10 million Igbo youths to march and tell the government we won’t vote if Kanu is not released,” he said.
He condemned the exclusion of Igbos in recent political appointments, describing it as unacceptable marginalisation.
“How can we say we’re one Nigeria when Igbo people are always excluded?” he asked.
He also criticised Northern interest in the 2027 Presidency, calling it unjust and provocative.
“Any coalition that won’t cede the ticket to the South will not fly,” Obilor warned.
He said that the South supported the North for eight years under Buhari and the time had come for the principle of equity to be implemented.
He argued that the South must complete its eight years before power returns North.
Obilor expressed disappointment in some Igbo leaders whom he accused of sabotaging Kanu’s cause.
“Some of them are behind Kanu’s plight and they are deceiving the President,” he said.
Obilor urged the Tinubu to listen to Igbo youths instead of political elites from the South East to avoid surprises in the 2027 General Elections.
He reminded Tinubu that many politicians advising him have their families abroad and no real grassroots base.
“We who live here with our families have the real followers,” Obilor added.
