South East Governors Not Doing Enough to Secure Nnamdi Kanu’s Release, Family Claims

South East Governors Not Doing Enough to Secure Nnamdi Kanu’s Release, Family Claims

The family of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), has expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of the South East Governors, accusing them of failing to take sufficient steps to secure his release.

During a memorial service on Friday in Umuahia, which honored their late parents, HRM Eze Israel and Ugoeze Sally Kanu, Prince Emmanuel Kanu criticized the Governors for not showing genuine effort in advocating for Kanu’s freedom. He questioned why the Governors have not fulfilled the conditions set by the President, suggesting that if they were truly committed, they would have approached the President directly regarding Kanu’s case.

Prince Emmanuel stated, “The South East Governors are not doing enough to secure Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release. Either they are complicit or something else is at play. Why haven’t they met with the President? It’s said that the President instructed them to meet with him on this matter, but there has been no action. Are the Governors benefiting from the unrest in the region? What are they afraid of? If Nnamdi Kanu were released, the tension in the South East would dissipate in 24 hours, as we would finally know who is hiding behind the agitation to commit crimes.”

The family also voiced concerns about the indefinite adjournment of Kanu’s trial, claiming that Justice Binta Nyako, who previously recused herself, no longer has jurisdiction over the case. They questioned why she would continue to adjourn without explanation and suggested potential bias, particularly regarding her refusal to transfer Kanu to a prison instead of holding him under harsh conditions in DSS custody.

The Kanu family called on the international community to urge Nigerian authorities to release Kanu, asserting that he had committed no crime deserving of incarceration. Prince Emmanuel also expressed gratitude to those who gathered to commemorate the fifth anniversary of his parents’ deaths, attributing their passing to the shock they endured during the 2017 military raid on their home, which resulted in the deaths of 28 people.

“We are deeply moved by the turnout to honor my late parents, who were affected by the trauma caused by the military attack on our home in 2017. In remembrance, people have dubbed today, February 14, ‘Saint Kanu’s Day,’ in tribute to my parents, who were laid to rest on this day. We thank everyone for their love and support, especially those who traveled from outside the South East,” he said.

He reiterated the demand for Kanu’s release, emphasizing that his brother’s cause was one of dialogue and meaningful discourse.

Earlier, High Chief Agonsi Ebere, a Biafran elder, spoke about honoring Kanu’s parents, who sacrificed their lives for Biafra’s freedom. He appealed to the Federal Government to heed the calls for Kanu’s release, arguing that keeping him detained would not lead to progress in Nigeria. Chief Ebere also urged President Bola Tinubu to release Kanu into the care of Biafran elders, believing that his freedom would restore peace to the region.

Aniekan Ekanem, the Akwa Ibom regional head of the group, also voiced support for Kanu, stating that the masses are behind him due to his advocacy for a just cause. He clarified that Biafra is not just an Igbo issue but affects all the people of the old Eastern region, noting that Akwa Ibom, known as “Igbo nta,” shares deep cultural ties with the Igbo. “We have Igbo names, like Udoh and Onyemaechi. We are all one, and nothing can divide us,” he concluded. Elders from various states, including Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and the five South Eastern states, attended the event.