By Shola Abayomi.
The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has issued a directive to members of the group in Japan to disgrace President Muhammadu Buhari and his entourage when he arrives the Far East on Sunday.
The IPOB leader who made the disclosure on Friday, added that President Buhari must be arrested and handed over to the Japanese government to answer for his alleged mass murder and ‘atrocious’ crimes against humanity which he allegedly committed between 2015 and 2019.
The Presidency had earlier announced that President Muhammadu Buhari would depart Nigeria on Sunday to attend the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) taking place in Yokohama from August 28-30, 2019.
This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina.
The statement also added that the President would be accompanied by Governors of Kwara, Borno and Lagos States respectively, as well as ministers and other top government functionaries.
“President Buhari will deliver Nigeria’s Statement during Plenary Session Three in which he will appraise Nigeria-Japan relations and takeaways from TICAD6.
“He will attend a State Banquet and also honour the invitation of Emperor Naruhito to a Tea Reception at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo. In addition to a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abe, the Nigerian President will also attend some side-events and meet chief executive officers of some Japanese companies with huge investments in Nigeria.
“Participants are drawn not only from African countries, but also international organisations, private companies and civil society organisations involved in development.
“Nigeria has gained tremendously since her participation in TICAD6 at the highest level, during which Japan pledged $30 billion investment for the future of Africa combined with the private sector; $10 billion infrastructure investment, and $500 million for vocational training of 50,000 Africans.
“Since the Nairobi Conference, Japanese government and companies have been very active in supporting Nigeria’s agriculture, healthcare, electricity and youth empowerment.
“President Buhari will be accompanied by Governors Babagana Zulum, AbdulRaham AbdulRazaq and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Borno, Kwara and Lagos States respectively; ministers and other top government officials”, Adesina said.
In his reaction, the IPOB leader enjoined its members in Japan to mobilize and ensure they arrest the president, stressing that they were prepared for the legal consequences.