S’East govs move for Kanu’s release as region’s elders mount pressure

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

South-East governors are said to be making serious moves for the release of detained leader of the Indigenous People’s of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

This is even as Igbo elders have mounted for the release of incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu as they stormed Abia Government House Umuahia, demanding “the immediate and unconditional release” of Kanu.

The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti has disclosed that he is leading the move for the release of the IPOB leader.

Otti, who was reacting to the visit of some Igbo elders to the Government House of Wednesday, demanding the intervention of South-East governors to the release of Kanu, disclosed this Thursday night during the monthly media chat with journalists at the banquet hall, Government House, Umuahia.

Otti said he was working with other South-East governors who are in talks with the federal government on how they can secure the release of the IPOB leader, stressing that they were equally exploring other options which according to him, they would not want to make public.

Meanwhile, Igbo elders have jumped on the bandwagon of those calling for the release of incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu as they stormed Abia Government House Umuahia, demanding “the immediate and unconditional release” of Kanu. The elders who came from different states in the South-East were at the major entrance gate to the Government House where they conveyed their message to Governor Alex Otti.

Addressing the governor, Spokesman of the elders, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezebuiro, said they came to inform the governor that Kanu’s continued incarceration was no longer tolerable. He expressed worries over Kanu’s deteriorating health condition, and the disturbing insecurity in the South-East. The elders urged Otti to prevail on his fellow South East Governors to lead a delegation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to press for Kanu’s release.

According to them, if South East Governors and other political elite were united in demanding for Kanu’s release, the President will not ignore them.

Chief Chinedu Obilor, one of the elders was of the view that if the Federal Government could dialogue with bandits, it would be much more beneficial to politically resolve Kanu’s matter.

Responding, Gov Otti commended the elders for their peaceful comportment, and promised to convey their message to the appropriate quarters.

The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Kenneth Kalu; and Chief of Staff, Calab Ajagba, urged the elders to remain peaceful, assuring that their grievances would be addressed.

Meanwhile, a diasporan Igbo group, Ikenga Think -Tank, North America, has decried the insecurity and “genocidal killings” of innocent folks in the South-East. The group in an open letter to South-East governors and Igbo leaders, called for immediate action to contain the troubling insecurity in South East. In the open letter signed by its President, Dr Dunkwu Agbambu, the group accused Igbo political elite of silence over Kanu’s continued detention and the worrisome insecurity in South East. The group expressed disappointment over what it called the failure of the current Igbo leaders to fit into the big shoes of the founding Igbo leaders.