The Igbo Community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to heed the growing demands of Nigerians and order the release of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the President General of the Igbo Community Association (ICA) in the FCT, Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, appealed to the President to take a “reflective rethink” over what he described as the unending cries of the masses regarding Kanu’s continued detention.
He warned that the situation, if not properly handled, could become a major distraction to the administration. “The cries for the release of the freedom fighter, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, have begun to reach feverish pitch — and may begin to pose a distraction to your administration if you fail to act timely,” the statement read.
Ellis-Ezenekwe cautioned that the “Free Nnamdi Kanu” movement could become the President’s “Achilles heel” if the matter is not addressed through democratic means. He noted that the continued detention of Kanu for over four years without conviction amounts to injustice and urged President Tinubu to exercise his executive powers to resolve the issue peacefully.
“The masses of Nigeria have come to realize that holding Nnamdi Kanu for over four years for no proven crime is unjust,” he said, recalling the controversial circumstances surrounding Kanu’s arrest and extradition from Kenya.
Describing President Tinubu as a “clever and wise politician,” the ICA leader urged him to demonstrate the same qualities in governance. “A true democratic leader listens to his people. The people want Nnamdi Kanu to be freed. He deserves justice,” Ellis-Ezenekwe stated.
He emphasized that agitation for self-determination should not be treated as a crime, noting that every Nigerian has the right to demand fairness and equity. “We believe it is not illegal for a people to agitate for their rights. Nigeria belongs to all of us,” he added.
