Youths in Umuahia under
the aegis, Umuahia Youth Movement, have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to
Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, to dethrone the father of the
leader of the now-outlawed secessionist group IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu or they
would take the laws into their hands by dethroning him, stripping him
naked and burning down his palace.
Kanu’s father is
the ruler of Isiama Afaraukwu community in Umuahia. The decision of the
youths is against the backdrop of the civil unrest witnessed in their
community following the clash between IPOB members and the Nigerian
Army.
In a letter addressed to the state governor, the
youths said they are demanding the monarch’s dethronement because he
failed to call his son to order but rather encouraged him in his
“madness”. The letter reads
“With tears and sorrow, the
Umuahia Youth Movement respectfully write to request the dethronement of
Nnamdi Kanu’s father as a traditional ruler of our clan. It beats our
imagination that a man who calls himself a royal father and an elder
could not call his son to order but rather encourage him in his madness
has have plunged Umuahia city to a great crisis today.
Sir,
recall that Umuahia have been the most peaceful capital city in Nigeria
to live and do business but just because of one man, we are today facing
the wrath of the federal government of Nigeria. Our shops, markets,
schools, churches and all banks have been shut down. For the past three
days we have been indoors for fear of been attacked by the military just
because of one man whose father is our traditional ruler.
Based
on the above, we hereby request that he be dethroned within 24 hours or
we will take the laws into our hands and dethrone him and even strip
him unclad and raze his house. We appeal to every well meaning Nigerian
as well to prevail on governor Ikpeazu to as a matter of urgency
dethrone Nnamdi Kanu’s father.”
The youths called for the
continued stay of the military’s Operation Python Dance in their
community. They alleged that if the soldiers are withdrawn, IPOB members
would attack them and rob residents of the community of their
belongings.