A faction of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organization has criticized former militant leader Asari Dokubo’s call for the Nigerian presidency not to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from Department of State Service (DSS) custody.
The faction’s Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, expressed concern that Kanu’s continued detention was destabilizing and harming the economy of the Southeast.
Isiguzoro clarified that their call for Kanu’s release was not to help him avoid facing the law, but rather to address the negative impact of his incarceration on the region.
Isiguzoro urged the President to release Kanu in the interest of national unity and also called for a presidential pardon for all prisoners of conscience, including Henry Okah and others.
“Asari Dokubo’s grandfather is Igbo from a place called Abam in the Arochukwu area of Abia State, so he’s our grandson. We understand there was a little misunderstanding between him and our son, Nnamdi Kanu.
“Dokubo is entitled to his opinion. In the past few years, there have been accusations between Asari and Kanu regarding the training of IPOB members, and it generated verbal tantrums.
“This led to some Northern and other groups saying Kanu must be taught a lesson. This is where Ohanaeze steps in, and we have discussed this remark that releasing Kanu will amount to criminality.
“We want Asari to know that when the then Nigerian Government declared him wanted, it was an Ohanaeze man, Uche Okwukwu, that harboured him, and we know that he has assisted Kanu in the past.
“Igbos demanding Kanu’s release is not because they are against him facing the law, but his continued incarceration has destabilized and crumpled the economy of the Southeast; it has brought untold hardship, unimaginable insecurity to the region which has affected schools and some governors losing control of their states.
“We want to tell Asari that its high time we unite the country, but a presidential pardon from Tinubu, who was never the architect of his incarceration, should be given to all prisoners of conscience, including the IPOB leader, Henry Okah, and others because Nigeria is divided along ethnic and religious lines.
“A lot of criminals will capitalize on Kanu’s incarceration to cause havoc, which would make things too bad.”
Article updated 9 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
