The South East’s governors have once again been criticized harshly for what is seen as their passivity in the ongoing struggle to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Due to a court order, the divisive agitator has spent the last three years in federal detention.
The governors have been accused of offering mere lip service to the widespread calls for Kanu’s freedom, with some alleging that they have failed to apply meaningful pressure on the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to facilitate his release.
Critics claim that this inaction undermines the collective interests of the Igbo people.
A pointed open letter to the South East governors, which was made public on Thursday in Abuja, was penned by a group of concerned religious leaders under the banner of the Concerned Igbo Ministers Commission.
The letter, signed by Rev. Tony Uzo Anthony, President General/International Coordinator, and Apostle Tony Osuji, Secretary General, boldly called out the governors for not championing the cause of the region’s most high-profile political detainee, despite mounting public demands for his freedom.
The clerics’ letter represents yet another chapter in the long-running battle over Nnamdi Kanu’s detention, as tensions continue to rise in the South East.
Part of the letter, dated January 8, 2025, read: “It is now evident that Mr. President and the South East governors took an oath not to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Last week, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, revealed their deal before the 2023 general election with Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son, with the approval of his father, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on how Kanu would be released if Tinubu won the Presidency.
“During his campaign in Imo State, the President promised that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu would be liberated during his presidency, but nothing has happened in nearly two years now.
“Sadly, no South East governor confronted Mr. President during his tour of the region about Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s infamous and illegal detention.
“It is now evident to everyone that our South East governors are the true source of insecurity in the South East. Otherwise, they should have pressed for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, who holds a lasting solution to the insecurity in the region.
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“Mr. President, being misled by the South East governors, is on a path that can ruin his name and political ambitions in the region.
“God will appear in His time to expose the actions of the South East governors who, in one way or another, have benefited from Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s unlawful incarceration.
“We, as a group, are now urging all religious leaders to begin raising questions about Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is yet to be released.
“The utmost hypocrisy of Igbo politicians is to use the media to fool our people with frivolous promises that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be released.
“They have all failed Ndi Igbo and should not be re-elected if they continue to fool us and politicize Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s continued detention is an outright humiliation of Ndi Igbo,” the statement said.
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