Igbo clerics knock S’East govs over Nnamdi Kanu’s continued detention

Clerics operating under the aegis of the Concerned Igbo Ministers Commission have accused the South-East governors of paying lip services to the agitation for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu, who was re-arrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria in 2021, is being prosecuted by the Federal Government on seven counts bordering on alleged treasonable and terrorism charges.

Since his re-arrest, Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services.

In an open letter dated January 8, 2025, and addressed to governors in the region, but made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, the clerics accused them of betraying the Igbo nation’s common interest by not putting pressure on President Bola Tinubu-led administration to release Kanu.

The letter which was signed by the group’s President-General/International Coordinator, Tony Anthony and its Secretary-General, Tony Osuji; described Kanu’s detention as a sad situation.

The letter partly read, “It’s now evident that Mr President and the South Eastern governors took an oath not to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Last week, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu revealed their deal before the 2023 general election with Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son, with the approval of his father, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on how Kanu would be released if Tinubu wins the presidency.

“During his campaign in Imo State, the President promised that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu would be liberated during his presidency, but nothing has happened in nearly two years now. Sad enough, no southeastern governor confronted Mr President during his tour to the region about Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s infamous and illegal detention.

“It is now evident to everyone that our South Eastern governors are the true source of insecurity in the South East otherwise they should have pressed for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu who has a lasting solution to the insecurities in the region. Mr President, being misled by the South Eastern Governors is on a path that can ruin his name and political ambitions in the region.

“God would appear in his time to expose the actions of the South Eastern governors who in one way or the other benefited from Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s unlawful incarceration. We, as a group, are now urging all religious leaders to begin raising questions about Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is yet to be released.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The group lamented that the governors have “failed Ndi Igbo and should not be re-elected should they continue to fool us and politicise Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release.

“The utmost hypocrisy of Igbo politicians is to use the media to fool our people with frivolous promises that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be released.”

It noted that Kanu’s continued detention is an “outright humiliation of Ndi Igbo.”