The ongoing detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has reignited tensions between the Presidency and major voices from the South-East.
Among the voices are the apex Igbo sociocultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, IPOB and former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
While IPOB and Ohanaeze hailed Obi’s recent call for Kanu’s release as timely and morally courageous, the Presidency accused Obi of having “separatist tendencies” and sympathising with IPOB.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, speaking to journalists in Lagos, at the weekend, said the Federal Government was open to negotiating the release of Kanu, but insisted it should not be used as a condition for political support.
Obi, in a Sunday interview on Channels TV Politics Today, demanded Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release, stating that there was no legal or moral justification for his continued detention.
Reacting, a Presidency source who preferred anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said “Peter Obi has separatist tendencies. He supports IPOB and he has said it publicly. But he wants to lead Nigeria. That’s a total contradiction.”
The source insisted that the government would not interfere in the ongoing trial of Kanu, insisting that the case before the court must be allowed to run its course.
Let them wait until the trial is over. If he is not found guilty, he will be released.
“Everybody knows that Nnamdi Kanu’s case is in the court. Would he want the government to stop the court from doing its work? The trial is on. Let them wait until the trial is over.
“The state is alleging that he committed an offence and the case is already on trial. If he is not found guilty, he will be released. If he is found guilty there will be punishment for it,” the Presidency source said.
He added “We cannot pronounce any judgment on behalf of the court. We should let the judiciary do its work. Once it finishes its work, we can talk from there. The case is on trial. So, we should allow justice to prevail; and the law to run its course.
They cannot be truncating an ongoing trial. The state has alleged. It is trying to prove its case. So, if the state cannot prove its case, Nnamdi Kanu will be released.”
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide reiterated its call that Kanu should be released by the Federal Government unconditionally.
Speaking with one of our correspondents in a telephone chat, its spokesman, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, said the organisation supported the call for Kanu’s unconditional release, noting that it was long overdue.
Chukwu said spending over four years in detention was an injustice, adding that “justice denied is justice delayed.”
He said, “Ohanaeze’s position on Nnamdi Kanu’s detention is obvious. Ohanaeze is unequivocally supportive of the call for Nnamdi Kanu’s release because it is long overdue, since after four years in detention, justice denied is justice delayed.”
Asked whether the apex Igbo body was part of the negotiations to free Kanu and conditions the Federal Government put forward, Chukwu added, “All I can say is that Ohanaeze is in strong advocacy for the release of Kanu.
“We desire that the Federal Government should find a political solution to facilitate his release.”
Also, in a telephone interview on Monday, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ikechukwu Oji, said the leadership of the body had always re-emphasised the release of Kanu.
He said his extradition from Kenya was illegal, adding that the foundation of his prosecution remained questionable.
Oji, however, called on President Tinubu to exercise his constitutional authority and explore diplomatic options to secure Kanu’s release.
He said, “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, under the leadership of the President General, Senator John Azuta Mbata, has always reiterated its call for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu.
“So, we are in support of any call for his release and it must be unconditional.”
So, we are in support of any call for his release and it must be unconditional.”
IPOB, through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, however, commended Obi for taking a stand while others in the region remained silent, describing his action as “a voice of reason and restraint.”
Powerful said, “Peter Obi’s call is not only a personal expression of conscience but a tacit acknowledgement of the glaring illegality and injustice that underpins the continued detention and persecution of Nnamdi Kanu.”
It warned against “political jobbers” like Minister of Works, Umahi, whom it accused of spreading falsehoods about ongoing negotiations.
IPOB rejected any notion of backdoor negotiations, stressing that Kanu’s release must not be tied to conditions or political bargains.
“The only acceptable platform for discussion is a United Nations-supervised referendum,” the group stated, insisting that Kanu remained unbroken despite years in detention and persecution.
The group said although Kanu was never a fan of Obi, the former LP presidential candidate remained the only politician in the Southeast region who had maintained a dignified disposition in the affairs of the country.
The statement read, “The Indigenous People of Biafra, under the supreme leadership of our incarcerated leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, notes with cautious optimism the recent public comments made by Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra State, in which he unequivocally called for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, stating that there is no justification for his continued detention.
“Mr Obi’s remarks are not only timely but also reflect a voice of reason and restraint amidst the deafening silence and cowardice of many political actors, particularly from the South-East, who have chosen self-preservation and political correctness over truth and justice.
“While Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has, on many occasions in the past, criticised Mr Peter Obi in very strong and unfiltered terms—consistent with his principled stance against Nigeria’s political establishment—it is worth acknowledging that Mr Obi never responded in kind.
“Instead, he has consistently maintained a dignified silence, refusing to allow personal attacks to cloud his sense of justice or moral duty.”
It added, “Indeed, we recall with appreciation that Mr Obi was among the few prominent politicians who defied fear and political pressure to attend the funeral of Kanu’s parents in Afaraukwu Ibeku at a time when the Nigerian military was harassing mourners and many high-profile individuals shamefully stayed away, Peter Obi’s quiet presence was a rare demonstration of empathy and courage.
“IPOB wishes to state clearly that while we are not part of Nigeria’s political system and do not seek validation from it, we recognise sincere gestures when they are made.
“Mr Peter Obi’s call is not only a personal expression of conscience but a tacit acknowledgement of the glaring illegality and injustice that underpins the continued detention and persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
The group said Obi had recognised that Nigeria had nothing to gain and everything to lose by continuing the illegal detention.
“His call for a political and legal resolution is not only in line with global best practices, it is an effort to save Nigeria from deeper moral and reputational bankruptcy,” it added.
The group warned Umahi and his ilk to desist from peddling lies and false hopes.
“Kanu’s freedom is non-negotiable and must be based on justice, not manipulation. The only path forward is a referendum, supervised by the United Nations—nothing more, nothing less.
“The Nigerian state is compounding its crisis by detaining Nnamdi Kanu illegally. Let them be reminded that continued injustice only breeds resistance,” it added.
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