President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday gave cheering news to Igbo leaders who met with him at the Presidential Villa in Abuja: he will consider a demand for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
Kanu is currently detained as he stands trial for treason, terrorism, and other allegations levelled against him by the federal government.
President Buhari noted however that the demand is quite heavy, but promised to consider it.
The delegation of Igbo leaders, under the umbrella of Highly Respected Igbo Greats, was led by Mbazulike Amaechi, a First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of Aviation.
These details were provided by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who announced this in a statement titled ‘President Buhari to Igbo Leaders: your demand for Nnamdi Kanu’s release is heavy. I will consider it’.
“You’ve made an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious,” the President said to the Igbo team.
“In the last six years, since I became President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary. God has spared you, and given you a clear head at this age, with a very sharp memory. A lot of people half your age are confused already. But the demand you made is heavy. I will consider it,” he said, in response to the demand made on behalf of the group by 93-year-old statesman, Amaechi.
Stressing his policy of non-interference with the Judiciary, the
President Buhari noted that after Kanu jumped bail, escaped from the country, got arrested and was brought back to the country: “I said the best thing was to subject him to the system. Let him make his case in court, instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from the outside. I feel it’s even a favour to give him that opportunity.”
The statement said that President condoled Amaechi, who recently buried his wife, and prayed for her soul to rest in peace.
Amaechi, the last remaining of first-generation Ministers, described the situation in the southeast as “painful and pathetic,” lamenting that businesses have collapsed, education is crumbling, and a reign of fear.
He was referring to the impact of the activities of IPOB and its military wing, the Eastern Security Network, which have unleashed a reign of terror on the residents in the region.
Amaechi, building on recent conversations, requested a political, rather than military solution. He asked that Kanu be released to him as the only First Republic Minister still alive and promised that “he would no longer say the things he had been saying,” stressing that he could control him, “not because I have anything to do with IPOB, but I am highly respected in Igboland today.”
Amaechi announced that on two different occasions he had met with Kanu, noting that the IPOB leader thereafter rescinded orders earlier given on civil disobedience.
“I don’t want to leave this planet without peace returning to my country. I believe in one big, united Nigeria, a force in Africa. Mr President, I want you to be remembered as a person who saw Nigeria burning, and you quenched the fire,” Amaechi said.
Other members of the delegation were a former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the Methodist Church, former President of Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, Goddy Uwazurike, and Tagbo Amaechi.
