Ohanaeze Ndigbo asks Tinubu to emulate Benin Republic leader and release Nnamdi Kanu

PAN-Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo has asked President Bola Tinubu to take a cue from his Beninoise counterpart President Patrice Talon who has just released Yoruba Nation campaigner Sunday Adeyemo and do likewise with Nnamdi Kanu.

Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has been in detention in Benin Republic for about two years after being arrested while trying to board a flight to Germany. He had fled his Ibadan residence after security forces stormed the premises and later showed up on Cotonou, where the authorities arrested him at the behest of the Nigerian government.

Last week, however, the Beninoise authorities released Mr Igboho from two custody and he has now flown to Germany to meet his family. Reacting to the development, Ohanaeze Ndigbo praised President Talon for listening to counsel and urged President Tinubu to follow suit by releasing Mr Kanu the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) and dropping all charges against him.

Ohanaeze’s factional secretary-general, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, also commended the unwavering contributions of Yoruba leaders such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Banji Akintoye, Professor Wole Soyinka, and Pa Ayo Adebanjo in securing Mr Igboho’s release. He said their efforts have not gone unnoticed, hence Ohanaeze expressed its gratitude for their dedication and relentless pursuit of justice.

Mazi Isiguzoro added: “We express our satisfaction with President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic for releasing Sunday Igboho through the intervention of Yoruba leaders and political figures. Now, we believe it is the opportune moment for President Tinubu to follow suit and show similar gestures by dropping all charges against Nnamdi Kanu.

“The release of Nnamdi Kanu will not only contribute to restoring peace in the southeast region but also address the prevailing security challenges faced by our nation. Ohanaeze Ndigbo firmly believes that granting Kanu his freedom will foster reconciliation and promote more harmonious co-existence among different ethnic groups in Nigeria.”