A major push for a political solution to the prolonged detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, intensified on Tuesday as 44 members of the House of Representatives formally wrote President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to secure Kanu’s release and open a national reconciliation process.
The lawmakers, operating under the banner of Concerned Federal Lawmakers, cut across political parties and geo-political zones, with members from both the North and South signing the two-page letter. They appealed to the President to invoke his constitutional powers to end what they described as an escalating security and political crisis, especially in the South-East.
In their resolution, the federal legislators asked President Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to discontinue the ongoing prosecution of Kanu and begin an inclusive political dialogue capable of restoring peace and dousing nationwide agitations.
According to the lawmakers, prior negotiations by the Federal Government with other restive and agitating groups across the country, as well as multiple favourable domestic and international judicial pronouncements regarding Kanu, make a political resolution both justified and urgent.
The letter, signed by lawmakers including Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, Hon. Obi Aguocha, Hon. Murphy Osaro, Hon. Peter Akpanke, Hon. Mudashiru Lukman, Hon. Paul Nnamechi, Hon. Sunday Cyriacus, Hon. Obed Shehu, Hon. Dominic, Chief Ugwu Emmanuel, Hon. Daniel Asama Ago, Hon. Chike John Okafor, Hon. Emeka Martin Chinedu, Hon. Chimaobi Sam, Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, Hon. Donatus Matthew, Hon. Ibe Osonwa, Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, Hon. Thaddeus Atta, Hon. Udema H. Okonkwo, Hon. Princess Chinwe Nnabuike, Hon. Kana Nkemkama, Hon. Peter Aniekwe, Hon. Gwachem Maureen, Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, Hon. Nwobosi Joseph, Hon. Amobi Godwin, Hon. Blessing Amadi, Hon. Anthony Adepoju, Hon. Dr. Joshua Gana, Hon. Chris Nkwonta, Hon. Emeka Idu, Hon. Peter Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Hon. Matthew Nwogu, Hon. Tochukwu Okere, Hon. Benedict Etanabene, Hon. Godwin Offiono, Hon. Ngozi Okolie, and Hon. Nnamdiz Ezechi, stressed that national healing and de-escalation must now take priority.
Part of the letter reads:
“Dear Mr. President, After a closed door strategic meeting of the following federal lawmakers committed to promotion of national unity and stability; and after extensive consultations across all party lines and different ethnic groups, we hereby wrote and subscribe to this Letter to Mr. President, concerning Mazi Nnamdi Kanu: Driven by the abiding and urgent need for national reconciliation and healing; and Having noted the Federal Government’s open negotiations with militants and different agitating groups in different parts of Nigeria; and in view of the insecurity that has pervaded Southeast since late 2015 and which spiked since 2021; and In the realization of the many domestic court and international tribunal pronouncements in favor of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu; and In the face of the growing national groundswell supporting the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and for the discontinuance of his prosecution.”
The lawmakers continued:
“We, the within-named federal lawmakers, hereby respectfully and earnestly request our dear President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as follows: To, as soon as practicable, direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to exercise his constitutional powers and discontinue the prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu; and To, pursuant to the discontinuance of the prosecution, initiate a constructive dialogue, aimed at seeking a just political solution of the matter. We are grateful to you, our dear President, for Your Excellency’s prompt consideration of our request; and please be assured of our continuing respects for your high office.”
Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested on October 14, 2015, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Lagos. Though granted bail in 2017 on health grounds, he was re-arrested in June 2021 after being extradited from Kenya through a joint operation involving Nigerian security agencies and Interpol.
Kanu is standing trial on charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms, and managing an illegal organization — allegations tied to his campaign for the secession of Nigeria’s South-East and the creation of an independent Biafra State.
