HOW KANU HOLDS NIGERIANS, THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY TO RANSOM - MAKARFI

Ahmed Makarfi, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Caretaker committee, accused the leader of the indigenous peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu of holding the Nigerians and the economy of the country through his style of agitation.

Former Kaduna State Governor made the claim while presenting on the Channels Television program, Sunrise Daily on Friday.

Makarfi noted that the IPOB leader's approach was worse than that of the northern youths who asked Igbos to leave their region.

PDP Chieftain made the above allegations while responding to the reason why the Arewa young people had not received enough conviction for issuing the notice of termination of employment against Igbos.

He said, “What he (Kanu) is doing is different from what the youth in the North have done. The youth in the North, may be 10 or 15, did a press conference.

“Nnamdi Kanu is holding people to ransom, bringing economic activities to a standstill, holding what will look like a mini rally. None of that is happening in any part of this country.

“All the leaders in the South-East have said yes we have concerns but the way you are going about it is wrong.

“The northern boys are just press (sic) and they dispersed, period. I am not in support of what they did but I am talking of the manner of their action.

“Whereas Nnamdi Kanu and his people are consistently holding people to economic hostage and at a particular time, they held the South-East down for a day.

“You don’t find such not just in the North but any other part of the country. You cannot behave that way.”

He, however, commended leaders of the South-East for condemning Kanu’s agitation, saying he has no authority to speak for the Igbos.

Makarfi said agitations are legal but must be done with decorum, devoid of hate speeches.

Noting that agitation cannot be wished away, he urged leaders of South East to call on government to implement the 2014 confab report.

“We cannot wish away any agitation, but as part of the South-East, let them come together and approach the government for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference report and demand an amendment of the part that is of concern to the South-East but that amendment must also be generally accepted by Nigerians,” he added.