From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The members of the American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), who have been at the vanguard of demanding justice for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu since his rendition in June 2021, have written a public letter to all Ndigbo, demanding they work collectively for the release of the IPOB leader.
In the letter signed by Dr. Sylvester Onyia, and Dr. Godson Obiagwu, AVID President and Secretary respectively, the group said since it has become clear the courts are incapable of dispensing justice in Kanu’s matter, Igbo leaders should meet with President Bola Tinubu to resolve the issue politically and release Kanu.
The letter read in part, “It is time for all Ndigbo worldwide, individually and collectively, to strongly and publicly demand the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since it has become crystal clear that the courts are incapable of dispensing justice or upholding the rule of law in this matter.
“In particular, we call on all Southeast leaders in elective positions at home and in Abuja, especially the five Southeast Governors, to fulfill their several public promises and commitments to approach President Tinubu to seek the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
“For this reason, we earnestly call on the Southeast Governors Forum (SEGF) to, without further delay, meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on this matter. Any further delay could be construed as evidence that all Southeast Governors are complicit in the continued incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu.
“If it is true, as we have been told that some Southeast politicians, particularly one of the Governors is blocking the release of Nnamdi Kanu because of his fear that Kanu will scuttle his ambition to become a Vice President of Nigeria either in 2027 or beyond, we say to such politician that a free Nnamdi Kanu will have neither the motivation, nor the interest to block the ambition of any Igbo that wishes to be a Vice President of Nigeria. And AVID is committed to seeing that no such interference will occur because we know that Nnamdi Kanu is apolitical and has no interest in engaging in who becomes what in Nigeria’s political landscape.
“In the same vein, all Southeast leaders that come in contact with the heads of security agencies in Nigeria should impress on them to eschew their seeming reliance on the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu as a subterfuge for padding security
votes for Southeast which they directly benefit from.
“We make bold to say that it is unconscionable for any true security chief driven by patriotism and respect for sanctity of human life to block the release of Nnamdi Kanu, knowing fully well that a free Kanu is critical to ending the insecurity in Southeast, once and for all.
“To the Southeast civic leaders, such as Ohaneze, traditional rulers, the clergy and frontline civic groups, we say if the Southeast Governors Forum proves unwilling to meet with President Tinubu in the coming days, we urge you all to promptly convene a group that will seek an immediate appointment to meet with President Tinubu to end this madness in our land. Given that Ndigbo recently lost the President of Ohaneze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, we call on the Obi of Onitsha (the Agbogidi) to convene a small group of eminent Chiefs and the Clergy that he will lead in meeting with President Tinubu.”
AVID particularly pressed it on Governor Alex Otti of Abia State that if all others prove reluctant in meeting with President Tinubu over the matter, that he should rise to the occasion and go alone in meeting with the President for the release of Kanu moreso since he is from Abia State.
The AVID members said they were optimistic that with good political steps from Igbo leaders, Kanu would be released before December 25.