President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may soon hearken to the outcry of the Igbos by releasing Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Kanu has been in the custody of the federal government since June 2021 after he was repatriated from Kenya.
According to News Express, an anonymous source indicated that Tinubu is considering releasing Kanu under amnesty on October 1, 2024.
Kanu’s prolonged detention has been a great concern, leading many, including South East Governors and National Assembly members, to urge President Tinubu to seek a political resolution.
Prominent Igbo figures, such as the late Mbazulike Amaechi and Chukwuemeka Ezeife, had previously attempted to secure Kanu’s release by engaging with former President Muhammadu Buhari, but their efforts were unsuccessful despite Buhari’s promises before he left office in 2023.
Kanu’s legal representatives have consistently argued that he has met all conditions for his release, deeming his continued detention unlawful.
President Tinubu’s consideration of amnesty for Kanu is viewed as an act of goodwill and an attempt to reduce tensions in the South-East.
It is anticipated to open doors for dialogue and reconciliation, potentially resolving the pro-Biafra movement.
Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization; Olisa Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association; and Ikoro Ndigbo, among other groups, have welcomed the move as a step towards finding a political solution to the impasse.
But spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, kicked against the proposal.
Suleiman argued that Kanu’s release would undermine the country’s criminal justice system and embolden separatist groups.
Furthermore, some have described the move as “belated”, suggesting that it should have come earlier given the urgency of the situation.
The Presidency has officially refused to react to calls for the IPOB leader’s release from DSS custody.
