Lawyers representing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to arrange a private meeting with Kanu to address the issues surrounding his agitation.
They appealed to President Tinubu to approach the situation with statesmanship, prioritizing the national interest in resolving Kanu’s case.
In a statement issued by Barrister Nnaemeka Ejiofor on behalf of Kanu’s legal team and provided to journalists in Abuja, they highlighted President Tinubu’s historical role as a freedom fighter during the NADECO movement and the June 12 struggle against the military regime of General Sani Abacha. They argued that Kanu’s situation is comparable and deserving of similar attention.
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“Even during the civilian administrations of President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan, Tinubu stood out for championing causes that brought him in direct conflict with the federal might, both on the issue of local government administration and the vexed issue of petrol subsidy removal.
“The same democratic tendencies are also possessed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention at the Department of State Services (DSS) Headquarters in Abuja since June 2021 when he was captured in Kenya through extralegal means,” he wrote.
The statement recalled that while in detention, high profile leaders of the South-East have visited him in detention and were amazed at his stunning intellectual mind and his zeal to ensure that Nigeria functions well.
He went on, “Nnamdi Kanu might be perceived to be the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) but inwardly he is a detribalised Nigeria who has helped to pay the fines of prisoners of various tribes, especially northerners when he was detained at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja. This amiable humanity in him is what many people are not unaccustomed to because of the persona built up around him, some of which are wide off the mark.
“Anybody who has had a one-on-one encounter with him will see that he has a great passion for a turnaround of Nigeria‘s fortune as well as to against fight corruption and other forms of social ills in the country so that Nigerians can have a better future.
“Consequently, it is imperative that President Tinubu holds private meeting with Kanu so that he can hear from the man his theories of how Nigeria can forge ahead.“
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The statement highlighted that before his passing, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, the leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, met with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in the DSS detention facility. Iwuanyawu was reportedly impressed by Kanu’s sharp intellect and clarity of thought, which prompted the elder statesman to commit to meeting President Tinubu to advocate for Kanu’s release.
Prior to President Tinubu’s administration, South-East elder statesmen, including the late Chief Amaechi Mbazuluike, a First Republic minister, had previously approached President Muhammadu Buhari to request Kanu’s release. Buhari, showing respect for Mbazuluike, promised to consider the plea. However, neither Buhari nor President Tinubu took action on the request before both leaders passed away.
The lawyers noted that the demand for Kanu’s release has gained renewed momentum, particularly as the current administration has opted for a more conciliatory approach towards other agitators such as Omoyele Sowore, Sunday Igboho, and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, who faced similar state charges.
“The conciliatory attitude of the government to Boko Haram terrorists who killed, kidnapped and raped Nigerians during Kanu‘s incarceration, coupled with the fact that several courts had ordered his release, all make a compelling case for a reconsideration of Kanu‘s case.
“Additionally, Kanu‘s release, as most knowledgeable people have argued, will help to end the carnage of ESN in the South East and improve the peace and security in the region.
“We encourage the Tinubu administration to show statesmanship in the handling of the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu phenomenon.
“If Chief Chukwemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu who led the Biafrans during the Civil War and Chief Raphael Uwazurike did the same under the MASSOB and today Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is doing the same under the name, IPOB, then as a democrat, President Ahmed Tinubu needs to dig deep into the root cause of the IPOB agitation and find a solution. Silencing IPOB now is sweeping the dirt under the carpet. Find the root cause Mr President and solve it in collaboration with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.“
