Ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Enugu state today (Saturday, January 4), apex socio-cultural organization of South-Eastern Nigeria, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has tasked the President to order the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which is seeking an independent Republic of Biafra from Nigeria, has been in detention since June 2021 when he was forcibly returned to the country from Kenya by the immediate past government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement by President-General (PG) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nze Ozichukwu Fidelis Chukwu, on Friday, and signed by its spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia, the group explained that President Tinubu would have written his name in gold if he orders Kanu’s release.
Welcoming Tinubu to the South-East ahead of his official visit to Enugu State, Nze Chukwu praised Tinubu for the gradual attitudinal change of the Federal Government under him towards the Igbo nation.
Imploring the President to take the next necessary step by freeing Kanu, Ohanaeze Ndigbo said: “It is therefore hoped that with the Enugu visit, President Tinubu will write his name with gold in the hearts of Ndigbo and all the well-meaning Nigerians, if he orders for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
The body noted that national peace, unity, patriotism and sustainable economic development of any country are the outcomes, effects or products of equity and social justice.
“In other words, there is hardly any society or group that can be complacent under severe existential threats such as orchestrated marginalization, relative deprivations, and external instigation of insecurity, conflagrations and crises,” it stressed.
The organization also thumbed up
Enugu state Governor, Peter Mbah, for what it saw as his “disruptive, innovative and massive infrastructural developments in Enugu State; Enugu International Conference Centre, Enugu Smart schools in all the electoral wards of Enugu State, hospitals across the states, resuscitation of Hotel Presidential Enugu, Flour Mills, Nigergas, the construction and rehabilitation of hundreds of roads in the State, etc, within a short period of his administration”.
Ohanaeze also hailed other Igbo political leaders, saying “we also appreciate His Excellency, Sen. Hope Odidika Uzodimma, CON, the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Chairman of the All Progressive Governors Forum, for the life-saving installation of Night Landing Equipment at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri.
“Finally, we wish President Tinubu a safe, joyous and eventful trip as he is treated with the Igbo hospitality in Enugu State.”
