Igbo socio-cultural organization Ohanaeze Ndigbo has, once again, called for the immediate release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The demand came on the heels of media reports that the Imo state governor advised Nigerian president Bola Tinubu to stall Kanu’s release until after the governorship election holding this month.
“We urge President Bola Tinubu to ignore any opposition and take decisive action to secure the freedom of Nnamdi Kanu without delay,” the group said in a statement on Thursday.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo had previously pleaded with President Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu immediately after the freedom granted to Sunday Igboho in the Republic of Benin.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo said it has been inundated with calls and pressures from Igbos both at home and in the diaspora, urging it to intervene and secure the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu.
In response to the overwhelming concerns and heightened tensions that have engulfed the length and breadth of the Southeast, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, has bowed to pressure and is now asking President Bola Tinubu to release the IPOB leader immediately. Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro has volunteered to stand as a guarantor and surety for Nnamdi Kanu’s release, assuring that it will not in any way affect the outcome of the Imo State Governorship elections.
We are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the news surrounding Governor Uzodinma, and we will address this matter in due course. However, President Tinubu must focus on granting Nnamdi Kanu his freedom without delay. The continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu only serves to fuel the tensions and unrest that have gripped our region.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo believes that the release of Nnamdi Kanu is a crucial step towards restoring peace, unity, and justice in the Southeast. We call upon President Tinubu to demonstrate strong leadership and deliver on his promise to release Nnamdi Kanu, thereby calming the nerves of our people and diffusing the current state of heightened tensions.
We implore all well-meaning Nigerians, both within the country and abroad, to join us in this urgent appeal for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu. Now is the time for justice, compassion, and the preservation of the fundamental rights of our people.
