Ohanaeze applauds Igboho’s release, seeks Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the leading sociocultural organisation of the Igbo people, has urged President Bola Tinubu to drop all charges against Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
Ohanaeze said that the appeal was made in light of Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba Nation activist, being recently released from Beninoise prisons.
Ohanaeze praised President Patrice Talon of the Benin Republic for releasing Igboho thanks to the intervention of Yoruba leadership and political figures in a statement released by its Secretary General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, on Wednesday. Ohanaeze urged Tinubu to follow Talon’s example.
It said, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo expresses its heartfelt appreciation for the unwavering contributions of Yoruba leaders such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Banji Akintoye, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and Pa Ayo Adebanjo towards the release of Sunday Igboho.
“The organisation recalls its October 1, 2023 Independence Day plea for the release of both Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho.
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“Ohanaeze Ndigbo believes that this is an opportune time for President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate similar gestures and drop all charges against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, allowing him to regain his freedom.”
The group added that the release of Kanu would play a pivotal role in restoring peace in the South-East region and help address the prevailing security challenges.
It also called on all Biafran groups to cease all acrimonies and offensive media wars against the Federal Government, urging Igbo leaders to focus on the importance of doing what was necessary for the betterment of the region.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo firmly believes that President Tinubu will be hailed as a national hero if he seizes this opportunity to release Nnamdi Kanu.
“The organization acknowledges that Nigerians who felt denigrated by Kanu’s actions should find it in their hearts to forgive him, as his release will mark a significant step towards national unity and reconciliation.
“We express our gratitude to President Talon, Yoruba leaders, and political figures for their efforts in securing Sunday Igboho’s release. The organization remains hopeful that President Tinubu will embrace this historic opportunity and contribute to the restoration of peace and harmony in Nigeria,” it added
Sunday Igboho regained freedom on Sunday after being held in Benin Republic for two years.
He had fled Nigeria in the wake of a midnight raid on his Ibadan home by the Department of State Services in July 2021.
Igboho stirred the hornet’s nest when he began a campaign for the secession of Yoruba from Nigeria and also launched a campaign to chase killer herdsmen and kidnappers out of the South-West states.
The Federal Government put the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Customs Service on high alert after the midnight raid to prevent him from fleeing the country, but Igboho reemerged in the Benin Republic.
He attempted to flee to Germany but was apprehended at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport in Cotonou.