NewStats: 3,259,390 , 8,169,980 topics. Date: Saturday, 24 May 2025 at 08:37 PM 7151r

The American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), a not-for-profit organization comprising American citizens of Igbo heritage who currently serve or have honorably served in various branches of the United States military, held its annual convention from October 11th to 13th, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

This year’s theme, “Stand Up for Your People,” focused largely on the pressing issues facing the Igbo homeland, particularly the ongoing insecurity crisis affecting several Southeastern states.

The convention attracted critical stakeholders, including military personnel, veterans, industry leaders, academics, representatives from the North Carolina Governor’s office, and various Igbo associations, creating a platform for dialogue, strategy development, and the exchange of ideas aimed at advancing Igboland.

In her address, the special guest of honor, Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, the widow of late Biafra leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, underscored the necessity for the Igbo diaspora to uphold and protect their core values, identity, and heritage. She expressed that concerns regarding the security situation in the Southeast were valid and noted that this issue is not confined to the Southeast but is a widespread crisis affecting many Nigerian states.

She urged the five governors of the Southeast to collaborate more effectively in addressing this urgent situation, warning that the current state of insecurity poses an existential threat to communities in Igboland.

Ambassador Ojukwu highlighted that “the incessant killings and kidnappings, the rising rate of farmland annexation by armed herdsmen and other armed invaders have severely impacted both the agricultural and economic prospects, along with social activities in many Igbo communities.”

She lamented the opportunistic criminal elements who have exploited separatist agitation for their own nefarious ends, sufficiently degrading the capabilities of security forces with their superior firepower.

Ojukwu noted that many people were fleeing their villages out of fear, transforming once-thriving communities into depleted and ghost-like towns. She called on the Southeast governors, as the chief security officers of their states, to intensify their individual and collective efforts to restore order.

She reiterated the call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, asserting that his freedom would significantly improve the security situation in the Southeast.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia North, stated that the current insecurity in Ala Igbo can be traced back to the arrest and ongoing illegal detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in 2021. He questioned why the Southeast has the highest number of police and military checkpoints per kilometer in Nigeria while unknown gunmen operate freely, causing destruction unchecked. Abaribe maintained that genuine government and security agencies' intent to tackle insecurity is necessary for any meaningful reduction across the country.

Other speakers included Hon. Uche Onyeagocha, a former lawmaker and past secretary to the Imo State government; business magnate Chief Dr. Kingson Njoku; Haitian Senator Jean Charles Moise; and industrialist John Gregg, followed by a discussion on the economic prospects of the Eastern Region.

Dr. Sly Onyia, President of the Veterans Association, announced that AVID is currently working to establish a direct flight from the United States to the Southeast.

The convention concluded with a banquet featuring lively speeches, entertainment, and award presentations. A highlight of the event was the appointment of Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu as the Patroness of the American Veterans of Igbo Descent association.


https://journalist101.com/2024/10/17/amb-bianca-ojukwu-in-usa-re-echoes-call-for-nnamdi-kanus-release/

Kanu is not the Messiah of the Igbo people.

Let them be looking up to him while the rest of the Nigeria move forward

Bianca should stop being petty. Kanu's release won't solve the insecurity in SE.

Salewa97:
Kanu is not the Messiah of the Igbo people.

Let them be looking up to him while the rest of the Nigeria move forward

..you are rejecting Igboho..who wants to deliver you from the master servant relationship..

..you're talking about Kanu..dont you like freedom brought by Igboho..

Two known IPOB terrorists on high table

No be only released, nah cum !

Salewa97:
Kanu is not the Messiah of the Igbo people.

Let them be looking up to him while the rest of the Nigeria move forward

No one said anything about messiah or is your father’s gossip radio still faulty?

Nice one! Besides the point of telling the directionless Tinubu gov’t to obey court ruling and release Mazi Kanu, i like the prospect of establishing a direct flight between the US and South-East!

Kanu should stay where he is.

Salewa97:
Kanu is not the Messiah of the Igbo people.

Let them be looking up to him while the rest of the Nigeria move forward

Wetin concern you, nwa Aphonja

EhWhoBeThat:



No one said anything about messiah or is your father’s gossip radio still faulty?

🤣🤣🤣

LOVEALAIGBO:
Nice one! Besides the point of telling the directionless Tinubu gov’t to obey court ruling and release Mazi Kanu, i like the prospect of establishing a direct flight between the US and South-East!

Incoherent wishful imagination @ best, or can you mention the airport in the South East of Nigeria that the flight from Yankee will land @?

Salewa97:
Kanu is not the Messiah of the Igbo people.

Let them be looking up to him while the rest of the Nigeria move forward

Nigeria moving forward, you are a clown

The call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu is misplaced. The security of the Southeast and the whole of Nigeria is bigger than the freedom of one individual.

Na US dem take dey echoes call? She nor know where Abuja dey.

Same as that black guy called Igboho in UK , shey dem dey fear to enter Nigeria?

Why is FG holding him even after the court say he should be released

Always, bold and Courageous.
The Governors of South East should apply the security votes they collect each month in billions to providing security apparatus for their citizens instead of packing the money overseas for their private use
The situation in southeast is turning to be something else especially Anambra and Imo state

Anither563:
The call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu is misplaced. The security of the Southeast and the whole of Nigeria is bigger than the freedom of one individual.

See how bigotry makes one talk rubbish! Mazi Kanu and IPOB existed for many years before the coming of the evil despot Buhari, and during this time the south-east was peaceful! Even the state murder of tens of Igbos’, with their bodies dumped in Ezu river, didn’t lead to insecurity and senseless murders in the region! The Mazi Kanu you speak of was kidnapped and has now been illegally held by your Buhari and Tinubu gov’ts for more than three years, and during this time insecurity has increased not just in the south-east, but the ENTIRE country! The ENTIRE southern Nigeria has witnessed a heightened spike in all manner of insecurities ever since Buhari snatched the presidency in 2015 and the situation has not abated ever since he handed the baton to his partner-in-crime, Tinubu! All this, yet you somehow have managed to convince yourself that keeping Mazi Kanu illegally detained will bring about a improvement in Nigerias’ economic and security situation!?

maruzia:
Why is FG holding him even after the court say he should be released

Because they’re vindictive, hateful, scared and have other interests besides the rule of law and obeying court rulings!

Charlotte: the queen’s city.

LOVEALAIGBO:


See how bigotry makes one talk rubbish! Mazi Kanu and IPOB existed for many years before the coming of the evil despot Buhari, and during this time the south-east was peaceful! Even the state murder of tens of Igbos’, with their bodies dumped in Ezu river, didn’t lead to insecurity and senseless murders in the region! The Mazi Kanu you speak of was kidnapped and has now been illegally held by your Buhari and Tinubu gov’ts for more than three years, and during this time insecurity has increased not just in the south-east, but the ENTIRE country! The ENTIRE southern Nigeria has witnessed a heightened spike in all manner of insecurities ever since Buhari snatched the presidency in 2015 and the situation has not abated ever since he handed the baton to his partner-in-crime, Tinubu! All this, yet you somehow have managed to convince yourself that keeping Mazi Kanu illegally detained will bring about an improvement in Nigerias’ economic and security situation!?

On point

Nnamdi Kanu that is working with the enemy?

He will never be released.

American veteran ko, American transgenders ni

I this they should release him the guy did nothing.

But this Bianca fine I still want to fvk her hard she will crying of joy .

Nnamdi Kanu will not be released. Infact , if Tinubu should grant him a presidential pardon, he will still be shot and killed. His family should go and beg the family of pastor Nwoko that Nnamdi personally ordered for his death and Mama miracle .

KANU must tender a public apology, otherwise , KANU will not be released.

You all can continue with your delusional sit at home.

The person that would have secured his release is dead and will soon be buried. Infact , God killed him mainly because of this.

Some of us see beyond the ordinary eyes. Know this and know peace