The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has issued a special plea to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to intervene in securing the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), currently held by the Department of State Services (DSS).
This appeal is conveyed through a letter addressed to President Tinubu titled “Special Appeal For The Release Of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
This plea is timed just 48 hours before the Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal challenging Kanu’s prolonged detention without trial. Iwuanyanwu emphasizes that Kanu’s release poses no threat to Nigeria’s democracy or social harmony.
Notably, various courts within the country and the United Nations have deemed Kanu’s arrest as illegal and unconstitutional, explicitly directing his immediate release.
He said, “I want on behalf of all Igbos worldwide to appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to use his good office to direct the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case is well known to all Igbos and Nigerians. It is the belief of many that the release of Nnamdi Kanu does not constitute any threat to our democracy or social cohesion and peace.
“Besides, a Nigerian Court has passed a judgement directing that Nnamdi Kanu should be released. Many Nigerians from the 36 States and Abuja have also appealed for his release.”
Iwuanayanwu said that as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the leader of Igbos worldwide, he brought the matter up during a joint meeting of South-South, South West, South East, and Middle-Belt of Nigeria and they unanimously endorsed that Nnamdi Kanu should be released.
“I, hereby make a passionate appeal to our President Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assist in procuring the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“This will be a highly prized Christmas Gift to the Igbos of Nigeria and all other Nigerians who are committed to a peaceful and secure country,” he said.
According to him, the incarceration of Kanu has created an unnecessary excuse for terrorism in the southeast which hitherto lived in peace and pursued their occupation wherever they were with patriotic zeal.
“We recollect with sadness that this region was a theatre of war. The war claimed the lives of many Nigerians. In addition, businesses and properties were destroyed. In 1970 when the war ended, the Igbos returned completely impoverished,” he said.
He, however, warned that all parties should avoid anything that could once again make Igboland a theatre of war.
“I further advocate that in addition to the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the Federal government should adopt a non-kinetic approach to the security problem in the South East.
“I, in collaboration with the Governors and other Leaders in the South East of Nigeria call for amnesty to those who at the moment are expressing all forms of agitation in the South East; and that they will be allowed to earn a dignified livelihood,” he added
