Valentine Ozigbo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Anambra governorship election, says Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is filling the vacuum of leadership failure in the south-east.
Ozigbo spoke on Monday during the Arise TV debate held for the governorship election candidates in Akwa, the state capital, on Monday.
The PDP candidate said IPOB’s agitations are genuine “in most cases” because “marginalisation happens in Nigeria and Anambra and Igbo people are part of the victims”.
Ozigbo called for the release of Kanu and the de-proscription of IPOB as a terrorist group.
“I honestly feel that what is happening is a failure of leadership. Agitation happens when there’s a failure of leadership,” he said.
“And so when there’s a vacuum, Nnamdi Kanu came up to feel that vacuum.
“Obviously, there are some areas that agitation may lead to that may not be exactly how we wanted, but truly those agitations are founded in most cases because marginalisation happens in Nigeria and Anambra and Igbo people are part of the victims,” Ozigbo said.
“So, I urge for dialogue and his release. And urge for IPOB to be de-proscribed so that we can all sit together and solve problems.”