VON DG appeals to President Buhari to release IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu
Mr Osita Okechukwu, Director-Genreal Voice of Nigeria (VON) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to honour Igbo leaders with the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indegeneous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Okechukwu, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC)made the appeal in a statement on Sunday in Abuja while reacting to the recent visit of some Igbo leaders to President Buhari.
Newsatlarge recalled that Igbo leaders led by a former Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi, recently visited Buhari to request the release Kanu.
Kanu who is being tried of treason,
had fled Nigeria in 2017, jumping bail after his Afaraukwu home in Abia was invaded by soldiers, he was later intercepted in Kenya in June 2021.
“I join, Ohaneze Ndigbo, eminent constitutional lawyer and chairman, Igbo Leaders of Thought, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, and people of goodwill nationwide in commending President Buhari for accepting to consider the release of held IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu,” he said.
The VON DG also appealed to IPOB to support Nigeria president of Igbo extraction in 2023, adding that this was however not a precondition for the release of Kanu.
“It is not a precondition, all am saying is that Mr President and host of other Nigerians are silently in support of Nigeria president of Igbo extraction 2023 project.
“But are weary and reticent of IPOB stance. Therefore, in my little opinion, IPOB support of our project will kill two birds with one stone.” Okechukwu said.
He explained that one stone was the release of Kanu, another was the return of economic activities in the Eastern geopolitical zone.
He expressed optimism that IPOB support would no doubt rekindle wider support of Nigeria president of Igbo extraction 2023 project.
“My understanding of IPOB agitation is to end Igbo marginalisation; if that’s the case then our 2023 Nigeria President of Igbo extraction will be the end of the civil war.
“Nigerians are waiting for IPOB to change gear,” Okechukwu said.
Buhari during the visit of the Igbo leaders, said they made an extremely difficult demand on him as leader of the country, adding that the implication of their request was very serious.
“In the last six years since I became president, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary.The best thing was to subject Kanu to the system.
“Let him make his case in court, instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from the outside. I feel it’s even a favour to give him that opportunity,” the president had said.
(https://newsatlarge.ng)