Nigerian business mogul and philanthropist, Prince Arthur Eze, has voiced his optimism that Igbo leaders will persuade President Bola Tinubu to forgive and release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Eze, the Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, shared his views during a press conference in Enugu.
He also clarified that President Tinubu should not be held accountable for Kanu’s detention, asserting that it was a consequence of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s hardline policies.
“Nnamdi Kanu was detained by Buhari, not Tinubu. Buhari is a hardliner. But we shall implore Tinubu for forgiveness. He embodies the spirit of compassion; he harbours no enemies,” Eze stated firmly.
In a heartfelt message to the youth who are calling for conflict over national tensions, Prince Eze urged them to exercise caution, sharing his deeply personal reflections from the Nigerian Civil War.
“They are unaware of the true horrors of war. I spent three years as a refugee with my father after losing seven brothers on the battlefield. Those clamouring for war have no idea what it entails. My own brother, the current Igwe, bore a bullet in his heart; he was a brigade commander in Arochukwu,” he recounted.
“All these voices advocating for conflict truly do not understand its grim reality. I remember when Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra. This detention is not on Tinubu, but on Buhari. However, we will beseech Tinubu for mercy. I urge everyone to be patient and continue their cooperation with the government.”
[TheNation]
