Nnamdi Kanu’s release won’t affect your re-election, Ohanaeze begs Tinubu

The Apex Igbo Sociocultural Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has appealed to the compassion of President Tinubu to consider the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra.

The group made the appeal in a statement signed by Deputy President General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro and National Spokesperson Chief Thomson Ohia on Tuesday.

According to them, the recent release of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai serves as a compelling precedent, strengthening the argument for Kanu’s amnesty.

They, however, advocate Kanu’s release be executed by May 29, 2026, or on the occasion of the Democracy Day celebrations on June 12, 2026.

The group, however, assured the president that Kanu’s release will not jeopardise his re-election prospects in 2027; rather, it will solidify a stronger bond with the Igbo people and fortify his position as a leader of inclusion and reconciliation.

The statement reads “The Apex Igbo Sociocultural Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, finds it imperative to address His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the sincere urgency and fervor dictated by both our moral compass and the collective sentiments of the Igbo people regarding our brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. It is with profound respect that we clarify the misconceptions surrounding Kanu’s activities, which have been disproportionately construed as a secessionist movement by segments of the Nigerian populace unfamiliar with the ideology underpinning his stance.

“Historical accuracy demands we illuminate the truth: Nnamdi Kanu’s journey as a Biafra activist began in 2001, rooted in a commitment to non-violence. Initially appointed as the Director of Radio Biafra International in London by the esteemed Chief Raph Uwazuruike, Kanu’s mission was to advance the vision propounded by the late Dim Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu—namely, to promote the concept of a “Biafra of the Mind.” This notion, articulated post-Civil War, was explicitly anchored in the belief that there was no justification for a renewed secessionist campaign from Nigeria.

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“Kanu’s deviation from this noble approach arose from the palpable threat posed by state-sponsored Fulani herdsmen, exacerbated under the previous administration of Former President Muhammadu Buhari. Labeling this unsettling trend as the “Fulanization Agenda,” Kanu awakened a consciousness among the Igbo to the grievous dangers we face. Regrettably, this essential advocacy became entwined with opportunistic individuals seeking fame and fortune, thereby compromising the integrity of Kanu’s initial vision. Furthermore, the diaspora Igbo communities, affected profoundly by the negative portrayal of Nigeria’s Image during the Buhari years, sought a new identity as a means of survival, fueling further misunderstandings of Kanu’s intentions.

“In light of this historical context, Ohanaeze Ndigbo earnestly appeals to the compassion of President Tinubu to consider the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu. The recent release of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai serves as a compelling precedent, strengthening the argument for Kanu’s amnesty, which we advocate be executed by May 29, 2026, or on the occasion of the Democracy Day celebrations on June 12, 2026. We assert with conviction that Kanu’s release will not jeopardize your re-election prospects in 2027; on the contrary, it will solidify a stronger bond with the Igbo people and fortify your position as a leader of inclusion and reconciliation.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo possesses credible intelligence indicating that the opposition coalition, comprised of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has manipulated Kanu’s incarceration as a political campaign strategy to mislead Igbo voters ahead of the 2027 elections. We respectfully remind President Tinubu that Nnamdi Kanu is, fundamentally, an advocate for Ojukwu’s “Biafra of the Mind,” seeking to draw urgent attention to the systemic marginalization of the Southeast and to demand the rehabilitation of infrastructures devastated during the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War.

“It is essential to underscore that Nnamdi Kanu does not possess the capacity or intent to instigate another civil war or conflict. He stands as a proponent of dialogue and understanding, not as a secessionist figure. Concomitantly, we commend President Tinubu for being the first Nigerian leader in over fifty-six years to initiate the reconstruction of critical federal roadway projects in the Southeast, including the reopening of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway as of today, March 31, 2026.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo reiterates its profound confidence that Nnamdi Kanu will be released into the care of reputable Igbo leaders in 2026, fostering a new era of dialogue and unity.