- Why Tinubu Must Release Nnamdi Kanu-South-East Senators
- Say Peaceful Demands Of Detained IPOB Leader Hijacked By Hoodlums, Hardened Criminals
- I Didn’t Discuss His Release With South-East Govs –Obasanjo
The calls for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis regarding the continued incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has again gained attention.
The Matrix reports that since his re-arrest in Kenya in 2021 by the Federal Government, Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of Security Service (DSS) on the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Although he pleaded not guilty to the charges, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, declined to admit him to bail on the ground that he jumped the earlier one in which Senator Abaribe was his surety.
There have been calls from different quarters recently for the release of Kanu.
On Wednesday, Senators from the South-East pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to order his release.
READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu Charges Court to jail DSS DG, Bichi For Disobeying Orders
The senators held a closed-door meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, where their letter to President Tinubu on the release of Kanu, was delivered for onward passage to the presidency.
Led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the lawmakers claimed that unless Kanu is released, the social and economic activities in the South-East region will continue to be stagnant.
Addressing journalists immediately after the meeting, Abaribe who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, lamented that the economy and social life in the region had suffered enough due to the continued incarceration of the Biafra nation agitator.
Abaribe noted with grave concern that the peaceful demand of the detained IPOB leader had been hijacked by hoodlums and hardened criminals, leading to wanton killings of innocent people, including security operatives.
The former Abia state Deputy Governor told journalists that he had already met with Kanu at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja on Monday, and that Kanu had agreed to abide by any conditional release.
Senator Abaribe expressed optimism that once Kanu is released, the tension and acrimonies engulfing the region since 2021 when he was clamped into DSS custody, would become an event of the past.
READ ALSO: Terrorism Trial: Nnamdi Kanu Seeks Negotiation With FG
The senators therefore pleaded with the AGF to convey their message to President Tinubu and for the AGF to use his position to terminate all charges brought against the IPOB leader by the federal government.
Besides the Senators, Abaribe said that virtually all political leaders, religious leaders and stakeholders, have unanimously agreed that Kanu be released for peace to return to the region.
Meanwhile, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has disclosed that the issue of releasing Nnamdi Kanu was not part of his discussion with the South-East governors in Enugu State on Tuesday.
The former President and Chief Emeka Anyaoku met with the governors on their own invitation to discuss regional development issues.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the Special Assistant on Media to the former president, Kehinde Akinyemi, the purported release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the Federal Government was not part of the discussion.
“The meeting with them was at my invitation and of Chief Emeka Anyaoku before their summit begins.
READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu: 50 Rep Members Write Tinubu, Demand His Release
The issue of Nnamdi Kanu was not on the agenda and was not discussed in my presence,” Obasanjo was quoted to have said.
He stated that the regional development issues included that of security and infrastructure.
Others were economic and cooperative/collaboration, which was meant to complement the national economic development agenda.
