President Bola Tinubu is under pressure to release the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, the separatist group, who has been in the custody of the federal government since June 2021.
Sources within the government indicated that Kanu may be released soon. However, the sources did not indicate the terms under which he would be released.
The presidency officially refused to comment on the development when contacted.
However, sources in the presidency was quoted as saying that leaders from the South East geopolitical zone have the right to ask for the intervention of the president on the matter.
Political leaders from the South-East geopolitical zone have intensified lobbying to secure the release of Kanu in the last few weeks, with several meetings and open appeals to the government.
The pressure from the zonal leaders, which has transcended political party affiliation, has also seen both the legislators and chief executives of the five states of the region unite in seeking a political solution to the impasse, which has led to economic and social crisis in the zone.
The situation also cost hundreds of lives since IPOB declared a sit-at-home order on Mondays across the zone, which was being enforced by its paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
While the federal government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice refused to divulge the plans of the government on the matter, stating that commenting on it would be subjudice, the governors of the five states would be meeting the president any moment soon, to formally present their resolution to him.
It will be recalled that at the end of their meeting on July 2, which had in attendance Governors Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Alex Otti of Abia, Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, as well as the host, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, the governors “resolved to interface with the federal government to secure the release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.”
A day after the Enugu meeting, senators from the region under the aegis of the South East Caucus of the Senate met with the AGF, at the end of which it was revealed by their leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, that aside from making a plea for the release of the separatist leader, the Caucus also submitted a passionate letter to President Tinubu to intervene in the release of Kanu.
According to the senators, unless Kanu is released, social and economic activities in the South- East zone would continue to crumble.
He noted with concern that the peaceful demand of Kanu had been hijacked by hoodlums and hardened criminals, leading to the wanton killings of innocent people, including security operatives.
The former deputy governor of Abia State and one-time surety of Kanu in 2017, said he had already met him (Kanu) at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS), in Abuja, on July 1, and he agreed to abide by any conditional release.
Pressure Mounts On FG To Release Nnamdi Kanu
