Biafra: Ohanaeze Lays Fresh Request Before Buhari For Nnamdi Kanu, Says Boko Haram, Others Also Got Amnesty

The Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has demanded a political solution be deployed in resolving the matter of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The president-general of the group, George Obiozor while making a case for the Biafra agitator said if the federal government could grant amnesty to repentant Boko Haram terrorists, and the Niger-Delta militants, there’s nothing stopping it from considering the case of Kanu.

Speaking on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television, Obiozor argued that the Igbo people are not at war with the rest of Nigeria, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to reconsider his stand not to release the detained IPOB leader.

He said Nnamdi Kanu who is currently facing charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism deserves to be given another chance and forgiven as force is a dangerous option for everone.

Naija News recalls President Buhari had shattered the hope of some individuals that he might release Nnamdi Kanu.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television aired last Wednesday, Buhari asked the pro-Biafra agitator to defend himself in court for spreading false information about Nigeria when he was in the United Kingdom.

This is coming after a former Minister of Aviation, Mbazulike Amaechi led some Igbo leaders to visit the President for the unconditional release of the IPOB leader on November 19, 2021.

Buhari had during the visit told the delegation that he would not want to interfere in the running of the judiciary but said he would consider their ‘heavy’ demand.

Asked on Thursday night to react to the latest declaration by the President, the Ohanaeze leader urged Buhari to consider a political solution in Kanu’s case, saying the move will de-escalate the tension in the southeast region.

“We in Igboland have made it categorically clear that we prefer a political solution to it — a dialogue to end it. It is clear to the rest of Nigeria,” Obiozor said.

“And we have repeatedly said that Igbo nation is not at war with Nigeria. Therefore, what is happening can be handled. I will use the words ‘political solution’ as the answer. Dialogue is the answer.

“Just as other sections of Nigeria, some areas of Nigeria, people who behaved like Kanu have been forgiven, given amnesty and integrated into the country.

“So, what we are asking is for Mr President to use the prerogative of mercy to look into the situation in the south-east.

“Prerogative of mercy is exclusively the right of the president. We are not talking about court. We are not talking about use of force. Use of force is dangerous for everybody and it will definitely not solve the problem. It will make it worse.

“We are not new to Nigeria’s politics. We saw in south-south — Niger Delta Avengers, MEND — and the rest, even the present Boko Haram, those who said they are repenting, how they are being rehabilitated.

“The problem of federalism is that the sensitivity is very much on the surface. If you don’t do one as you have done others, you will have problem.”