The family of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to honor and immortalize the late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, by releasing Kanu.
This is as the family has challenged South East Governors and other stakeholders from the zone to show leadership by uniting and aggressively pressing for Kanu’s freedom.
Recall that the Ohanaeze PG who died in July will be buried on November 2nd according to an earlier statement by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization.
According to Kanu’s family, the decision of Justice Binta Nyako formerly presiding over Kanu’s trial to recuse herself from the matter has given opportunity for political solution to the debacle.
The family explained that the withdrawal of the presiding Judge became necessary to restore international confidence in the Nigerian judiciary.
According to the family, Nyako’s refusal to comply with the orders of the Supreme Court concerning Kanu became an international embarrassment to Nigeria, hence the need for her to recuse herself.
“Our candid view on the 24th of September court proceedings is that both Binta Nyako and Morgaji Bichi acted as obstacles, not only undermining Nigeria with their rigid stances but also creating significant embarrassment for the current administration that inherited these issues. Those opposed to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release are inadvertently suggesting to the international community that this administration is ineffective.”
Prince Emmanuel Kanu in a passionate appeal on behalf of the family, urged President Tinubu to cash into the current judicial reality in Kanu’s trial to grant the IPOB Leader freedom as was granted to the Leader of Yoruba self-determination group, Sunday Igboho.
The family’s pleas in the statement made available to Vanguard said: ” The current judicial reality of the case has thrown up opportunity for a political dialogue and solution for the release of MNK and the South East political leaders must seize the moment and take advantage of it.
“We request the President to be fair and apply the same universal justice, fairness that was applied to freeing Sunday Igboho who is his tribesman.
“We pray for the happy repose of the soul of the late Ohaneze President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, and ask the President and SE Governors to show respect to the late Igbo leader by releasing MNK.
Kanu’s family decried the manifest exclusion of Ndigbo from the scheme of things despite being one of the three major tribes and tripods upon which Nigeria stands.
“There can never be progress and prosperity when one of the tripods of which Nigeria is built upon is intentionally marginalized and discriminated against.
“The Igbo tribe has shown good faith in the Nigerian project and it is mostly the Igbo that invests and builds wealth in every part of the nation without contemplating that they are not indigene of the local environment”.
Kanu’s family called for the full implementation of the three”RS” (Rehabilitation, Re-integration, and Restoration) of Igbo land to compensate for the ruins of the civil war.
“Is it not time to end the civil war by deploying the 3 Rs of Rehabilitation, Re-Integration and Restoration?”
The family accused South East Governors of complicity over Kanu’s continued incarceration and challenged them to come out clean.
“South East Governors why are you stopping the freedom of your own son? To what benefit is it to keep your son perpetually incarcerated? Why can’t the SE Governors take a cue from other zones who collectively worked for the freedom of their freedom fighters? South East Governors what are you afraid of?
“Governor Hope Uzodinma you’re the chairman of the SE Governors Forum and by extension the political rallying point of the South East Political leaders therefore, what is stopping you from showing leadership and leading from the front to go release your brother?
“Traditional and Religious leaders should create the atmosphere for the coming together of the South East Stakeholders to enable coherence and commonality in going to the president to demand the release of their son.”
Kanu’s family further explained that contrary to misconceptions, their son never intended to insult anybody but was only expressing his dissatisfaction with the marginalisation of his people by the Nigerian State.
”While Mazi Nnamdi Kanu may have offended some individuals with his rhetoric, it doesn’t indicate he harbors hate.
“He cares for and respects people but expresses concern when things are not handled properly. He has no interest in holding political office in Nigeria; his primary focus is on ensuring the proper development of Biafra land with equal opportunities for all.”
The family also told security agencies not to see Kanu’s release as a defeat but to consider it as a victory for all and in the interest of the entire country.
“Security Agency should see the release of MNK as a win and see MNK as a partner for the restoration of security and safety in the region”.
