The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned the Southeast Governors for their lack of action regarding the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
The group accused the governors of failing to fulfill their commitments made during a public meeting in Enugu on July 2, 2024, regarding Kanu’s release.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its Deputy President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze demanded immediate action from the governors and warned of an investigation if allegations of their refusal to engage with President Bola Tinubu are proven true.
The organization claimed that the governors are delaying Kanu’s release negotiations due to political ambitions, which they said was an unacceptable display of inaction.
“The blatant inaction displayed by the Southeast Governors, who have chosen to metaphorically ‘play the ostrich,’ is both alarming and unacceptable,” the statement read.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo demands an immediate cessation of this political evasion. The collective expectations of the Southeastern populace have been placed at the forefront, pressing these governors to rise to the occasion or confront the inevitable repercussions manifested through the electorate’s choice at the ballot box.”
The statement further expressed empathy with Kanu’s family, acknowledging their frustration at the governors’ failure to honor the commitments made in the July 2024 meeting in Enugu. Ohanaeze also noted that despite public pledges from the governors to engage with President Tinubu to secure Kanu’s release, allegations from Kanu’s family suggest the governors have refused to respond to invitations from the President.
“It has come to our attention that, despite these commitments, there are alarming allegations from Kanu’s family indicating a disturbing refusal among the Southeast Governors to respond to invitations from the President to discuss Kanu’s situation,” the statement added.
Ohanaeze warned that if these allegations are confirmed, it will initiate a forensic investigation to uncover the reasons behind the governors’ refusal to engage.
“Our analysis suggests that the Southeast Governors are exhibiting a palpable nervousness, translating into a cold-footed approach towards meaningful engagement with the Federal Government,” the statement stated. “The fear gripping them seems rooted in their apprehensions about providing assurances to President Tinubu, specifically that the aftermath of Kanu’s release will not threaten the fragile unity of Nigeria.”
The group further argued that the governors’ reluctance could stem from concerns over the political implications of Kanu’s release, especially regarding the re-election bids of four out of five governors and the vice-presidential ambitions of one of them.
In conclusion, Ohanaeze Ndigbo affirmed its readiness to take a grassroots approach and offer itself as a surety for Kanu’s release. The organization also emphasized that its support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 is tied to the successful release of Kanu.
