I
LT Seek United Igbo Region, Kanu’s Unconditional Release
ABUJA — Igbo leaders under the umbrella of Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT) have called for the temporary suspension of the 2027 general elections until the restructuring of Nigeria is completed.
The demand was contained in a position paper titled _“Igbo Position on the Restructuring of Nigeria”_ dated September 16, 2026.
The statement was signed by Emeritus Prof. Elochukwu Amucheazi, President-General of ILT; Sen. John Azuta-Mbata, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo; Prof. Dozie Chukwuokolo, Secretary-General of ILT; Amb. Uche Ajulu-Okeke; Dr. Katchi Ononuju; and Prof. Obasi Igwe, leader of the Igbo delegation to the Abuja restructuring conference.
United Igbo Region
The group proposed the creation of a United Igbo Region comprising the five South-East states — Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo — plus the proposed Anioma State, Rivers State and Igbo-speaking communities in parts of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Edo and Kogi states, with access to the Atlantic coast.
Rejection of Abuja Communique
The leaders said they rejected the communique issued at the Abuja restructuring conference of August 20, 2026, arguing that Nigeria’s problems are foundational and stem from the 1914 amalgamation which they said was done without the consent of constituent nationalities.
They argued that a stable union should be built from the peoples and regions, not from the federal centre.
Suspension of 2027 Polls
The ILT proposed that restructuring should be concluded before May 2027, and that the 2027 elections be put on hold through what it called an “act of necessity.” Elections, it said, should resume under post-restructuring principles.
The group also called for regional and national referendums, conducted by an independent body, to allow Nigerians determine their political future, and affirmed support for the right to self-determination for all ethnic nationalities.
Demand for Kanu’s Release
The leaders demanded the immediate listing of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal for accelerated hearing and his unconditional release, alongside other political prisoners, to build trust for national dialogue.
10-Region Structure
The ILT proposed scrapping the current 36-state structure, local governments and geopolitical zones in favour of a 10-region system — five coastal regions in the South and five riparian regions in the North — based on ethno-linguistic groupings or mutually agreed multi-ethnic configurations.
Other proposals include:
-Return of resource ownership and control to regions, with agreed contributions to the federal centre
- Reorganisation of the military and creation of regional police
- Abolition of the concurrent legislative list
- A secular state with separation of religion and state
- Direct coastal access for all southern regions and river access (Niger or Benue) for all northern regions
Post a Comment