The south-east council of traditional rulers has asked President Bola Tinubu to order the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his extradition from Kenya in 2021 over alleged treason.
Speaking at a forum organised by NAN in Abuja on Sunday, Samuel Asadu, chairman of the council, said Kanu’s release will ease tension in the country. “He [Kanu] is our son. He has been there for a long time inspite of the ups and down with the judiciary.
“Off course, we back the governors forum and other stakeholders’ call for his release so that tension will be reduced. We hope that the government will do its due diligence to ensure that people are guaranteed that the release won’t go beyond what is expected,” Asadu said.
Asadu said Kanu’s release would reduce the violent attacks and insecurity in the south-east geopolitical zone.
“If the president looks into that and gives him a pardon, we will be excited. It is affecting our area, because his absence. Some of the people are his die hard fans,” Asadu said.
“Who will want to have his son locked up for a long time? Of course all the traditional rulers are praying for Nnamdi Kanu to be released. We feel his pains and the pain of his family. It will be a gift if the president does that. We will come back to thank him in a big way.”
CALLS FOR KANU’S RELEASE
In recent months, there has been growing calls for Kanu’s release, particularly from stakeholders in the south-east region.
In June, 50 members of the house of representatives asked Tinubu to order Kanu’s release.
On July 2, the South-east Governors’ Forum resolved to meet with the president to seek the release of the separatist leader.
On July 3, senators from the geopolitical zone met with Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, over Kanu’s release.
On July 23, the minority caucus in the house of representatives also joined calls for the release of Kanu.
The south-east region has also witnessed an uptick in the activities of gunmen who violently enforce a sit-at-home order on Mondays to demand Kanu’s release.
