The Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to forgive and extend mercy to the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The President-General of the group, George Obiozor, pleaded with Buhari on Saturday while speaking at an event organised by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, in Owerri.
He said, “We highly recommend that the federal as well as state governments engage the restive Igbo youths in some form of dialogue towards the peaceful resolution of the present crisis.
“In this context, we equally appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to exercise his prerogative of mercy for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other Igbo youths in detention in various places.”
Igbo notables at the event, included Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, former presidents of the Senate, Aldolphus Wabara, and Anyim Pius Anyim, Ike Nwachukwu, Nnia Nwodo, Gary Enwo Igariwey, the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe and Mrs. Victoria Akanwa.
Others were former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim; Minister of State for Steel Development, Uche Ogah, and ABC Nwosu.
Meanwhile, elder statesman, Mbazuluike Amaechi, vowed not to relent in his push for Kanu’s freedom.
Recalling his earlier meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue, the First Republic minister expressed worry that more groups may spring up for the agitation if he was not released now that the ovation was high.
He was upbeat that he will hand Kanu over to Ndigbo on his release as part of his promise when he met with the president but kicked against the destruction of property in the South East by hoodlums. He maintained the destruction will never impact positively on the economy of the zone.
He said: “I begged Buhari last year, I was with Bishop Onuoha and others, that he should release Kanu, if you don’t release him, what is happening will continue, more groups are coming up and we must stop that in Igbo land, if they release him, 70 percent of these crises will stop.”
