The Coalition of Concerned Igbo Religious Leaders has sparked fresh debate after declaring that the same forces they believe distorted the historic Aburi Accord before the Nigerian Civil War are still working against the interests of Ndigbo today. The coalition, made up of Christian, traditional and interfaith leaders, issued the statement in Umuahia, insisting that history is repeating itself in a different form.
According to the religious leaders, the 1967 Aburi Accord, which they said was intended to guarantee regional autonomy through a confederal arrangement, was deliberately misrepresented, leading to the devastating Biafra war. They alleged that a similar pattern is unfolding around the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The coalition argued that ESN emerged only after the proscription of IPOB and military operations in the South-East, claiming its primary objective was to protect local communities from rising insecurity. They questioned the legal basis for the proscription of IPOB and challenged the circumstances surrounding Kanu’s conviction, alleging that unresolved legal issues remain.
In their statement, the religious leaders accused unnamed political actors and influential individuals of distorting public narratives while shielding those they believe contributed to insecurity in the region. They also expressed concern over what they described as growing propaganda aimed at weakening the Biafra movement and keeping Kanu in detention.
Calling on Igbos to remain united, the coalition urged the people to critically examine the events surrounding the Aburi Accord, IPOB and ESN instead of accepting official narratives without scrutiny. They maintained that Kanu’s unconditional release remains essential to achieving lasting peace and meaningful dialogue on the future of the South-East.
The statement is expected to reignite national conversations on restructuring, self-determination and the lingering political tensions surrounding the South-East as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
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