The legal team representing Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has called on President Bola Tinubu to hold a private meeting with Kanu to address the ongoing unrest in the South-East region.
In a statement signed by the team’s head, Nnaemeka Ejiofor, the lawyers urged the president to demonstrate leadership by taking proactive measures to resolve the situation.
The legal team warned that Kanu’s continued detention without addressing the underlying causes of the agitation could escalate instability in the region.
They recommended that President Tinubu investigate the root causes of the unrest and collaborate with Kanu to find a lasting solution.
Drawing comparisons between Kanu and President Tinubu, the legal team highlighted both men as “democrats and freedom fighters,” referencing Tinubu’s role in the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election as an example of his capacity to understand Kanu’s motivations.
The lawyers also advocated for Kanu’s release, noting that during his detention at Kuje Correctional Centre, Kanu demonstrated a commitment to improving Nigeria by assisting prisoners from various ethnic backgrounds, including those from the North.
According to the legal team, Kanu possesses a “stunning intellectual mind” and is deeply passionate about combating corruption and bettering Nigeria.
The statement also referenced the unsuccessful attempts by several prominent Igbo leaders, including Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Mbazuluike Amaechi, to secure Kanu’s release during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The lawyers emphasized that the new government, which has shown leniency towards other agitators like Omoyele Sowore and Sunday Igboho, should reevaluate Kanu’s case.
They believe that Kanu’s release could help reduce insecurity in the South-East, allowing military forces currently deployed there to be reassigned to combat terrorists and bandits in other parts of the country, thereby addressing the growing food insecurity caused by unrest in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions.
