After several unheeded calls, the governors of the five states of Nigeria’s South East region under the aegis of the South East Governors’ Forum have finally resolved to meet with President Bola Tinubu to plead for the release of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The governors reached the resolution during their meeting in Enugu on Tuesday.
Kanu, who leads IPOB, a group seeking the independence of the South-East region of Nigeria under the name of Bịafra, has been in trouble with the Nigerian government since 2015. His latest arrest was in Kenya in June 2021 under controversial circumstances. Since then, he has been in detention and facing trial over charges by the Nigerian government bordering on terrorism and related issues. There have also been calls from prominent Nigerians for Kanu’s release, but this is the first time the governors of the region have resolved to plead with the central government for his release.
The governors also plan to discuss other pressing issues that will be of interest to the region and the country with President Tinubu.
The decisions of the governors were contained in a communique read to the media by the Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, after their meeting at the Government House in Enugu.
Uzodimma, who was flanked by his counterparts from the other four states – Dr. Alex Otti (Abia), Prof Charles Soludo (Anambra), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi State), and the host governor, Dr Peter Mbah (Enugu State) – informed that during their visit to the President, they would discuss the issue of insecurity in the region and the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
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“The Forum deliberated on the reviewed report of the South East Security and Economic Summit held in Owerri on the 28th September, 2023 and agreed to implement the aspects of the report pertaining to security and economic integration and affirmed its desire to put actionable plans on the key issues agreed,” the communique said.
“The Forum also resolved to interface with the Federal Government to secure the release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
“The Forum commiserated with Government and people of Abia State, Ebonyi State, Imo State, South East, Nigeria and Chief Ogbonnaya Onu’s family on the demise of His Excellency, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.
“The Forum received the delegation of the Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCON and His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe CFR, Obi of Onitsha, who came on a solidarity visit to the Forum,” it said.
The Forum also announced the setting up of a nine-man burial committee for the former Minister of Science and Technology and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, to be chaired by former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim.
