From Magnus Eze, Enugu
BARELY a week to December 15 slated by the Supreme Court to decide whether the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is in order, calls for the release of the self-determination activist have heightened.
The Association of Igbo Town Unions (ASITU), Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Spain and wife of Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu and women in the seven Igbo Speaking States, have renewed their calls for the Kanu’s unconditional release.
They separately stated that his release would return peace and security to the South East were social and economic activities had been disrupted for over two years.
National President of ASITU, Chief Emeka Diwe, said that Kanu ought to have been freed by now owing to the judgement of the Appeal Court Abuja Division, that discharged and acquitted him in 2022.
He said that the Federal Government must not fail to use the opportunity of the December 15 Supreme Court hearing to ensure that Kanu was released without any string attached.
According to him, the IPOB leader’s release will reduce insecurity in South East and possibly put a stop to the sit-at-home declared by none state actors with unimaginable adverse effect on the economy of the region.
He noted that most agitators in South East had pointed at the incarceration of Kanu as the reason for their agitation, expressing the optimism that his release will drastically reduce the ugly menace.
“Since most of the groups that are fingered in the lingering insecurity in our zone said they are fighting for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, why can’t the federal government release him so that these groups will no longer have excuse to make.”
Diwe wondered what the Nigerian Government would stand to lose if the IPOB leader is freed.
Recently, Kanu’s freedom reverberated at the 12th memorial of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu in Owerri, Imo State on November 26.
The ex-Biafra leader’s widow tasked the governors of the Southeast states, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide as well as Igbo traditional and religious leaders, to join forces and ensure Kanu’s urgent release.
Also, women under the auspices of Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu, to as a matter of urgency, direct the release of the IPOB leader.
They restated the call in a statement by their President General/Founder, Lolo Kate Ezeofor, International Representative, United Kingdom, Chinwe Amakalu, United States of America Liaison Officer, Ngozi Olisakwe, Mobilizer (USA), Uzoamaka Ahaneku and Representative in the United Nations, New York, USA, Frances Ndika, among others.
Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora which has special consultative status with Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at the United Nations, New York, USA and Geneva, Switzerland, said that it is desirous of peace in the region and will stop at nothing to achieve that.
“As mothers, we bear the brunt of the devastations in the South East and the sufferings of our children,” the Igbo women stated.