The Northern Elders Forum, NEF, yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reject the request of some notable Igbo leaders to release leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The Forum stated that there were neither a safe, constructive nor informed grounds for granting the request, and advised the President not to delay in announcing that the judicial process in the case of Kanu would be allowed to run its course.

The Northern elders said this in a statement signed by NEF’s Director, Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in Abuja.

Recall that Igbo leaders, led by First Republic parliamentarian and former Minister of Aviation, 93-year-old Mbazulike Amaechi, had described the situation in the South-East as “painful and pathetic,” lamenting that businesses had collapsed, while education was crumbling amid fears.

READ ALSO: Orji Kalu visits Nnamdi Kanu, says ‘I’ll continue to counsel him’

Amaechi also promised that if Kanu was released, they would ensure that “he (Kanu) no longer say the things he had been saying.”

But NEF argued that granting the request of the Igbo leaders would do serious injury to the country’s integrity.

He said:  “Northern Elders Forum has carefully studied the request of Igbo Elders for  President Muhammadu Buhari to terminate the trial of Nnamdi Kanu and release him unconditionally.

“It has also noted President Buhari’s response which both raised very weighty issues related to the request, and his commitment to consider it.

“The Forum notes that there are no safe, constructive or informed grounds for granting the request, and advises that President Buhari will do serious injury to a country already threatened by multiple challenges to its security and territorial integrity, if he delays announcing the only responsible response, which is  that the judicial process in the case of Kanu must be allowed to run its course.”

The Northern elders also noted the judicial decision to label bandits and kidnappers as terrorists, and cautioned against a blanket profiling and targeting of all Fulanis.

Baba-Ahmed said:  “The Forum noted a judicial decision to label bandits and kidnappers as terrorists, and recommends greater clarity in terms of the targets of this development.

“In any event, the Forum cautions against profiling and targeting all Fulani as terrorists. Millions of law-abiding Fulanis exist who should be encouraged to stay on the side of the law, while those who have chosen to continue on the path of criminality should feel the full weight of the law.”

The Forum also advised that the National census planned for 2022 should be postponed until after the 2023 elections.

“The integrity and success of a sensitive and vital activity such as this will be compromised by destabilized and threatened communities and proximity to another sensitive activity such as general elections,” it stated.

NEF also invited attention to the hardship in the country under which the vast majority of Nigerian citizens  now live in abject poverty.

“Increasing poverty levels and widespread insecurity demand that leaders should exercise extreme caution in taking economic and security-related decisions.

“Increase in the price of fuel in particular will compound the already desperate condition of living of most Nigerians. It is important that decisions on this matter include considerations of the interests of the national economy, the welfare of the citizen and the reactions of a hard-pressed citizenry,” Baba-Ahmed said.