Don’t Release Nnamdi Kanu, Arewa Community Tells Tinubu
The Chairman of Arewa Community in Southern Nigeria, Alhaji Musa Saidu, has cautioned the Federal government over the agitation for the unconditional release of Nmadi Kanu, the leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB).
Sa’idu told The Syndicate in an interview in Abuja that Kanu’s unconditional release would give the Tinubu administration a bad name.
He said that although those agitating for the release of the IPOB leader have the constitutional right to do so, the government should weigh the magnitude of his offence and national interest.
“Hundreds of innocent lives including Police, soldiers and civilians were lost, and their families remain in melancholy, yet
the South-East governors are ignoring that and are now putting pressure on the Tinubu government to release Kanu unSa’idu tionally, this is wrong,’’ he said.
Sa’idu advised the government to put conditions before the release, which should include payment of compensation for lives of people killed by IPOB militia, and a special apology to Nigerians by the governors and Kanu for the offences committed.
“In the event the government resolves to release him, there must be conditions and a written commitment from South-East governors on lasting peace in their states,’’ he added.
According to him, the governors should shoulder the payment of the compensation to families of victims of the IPOB militia.
The Arewa leader stressed the need for peaceful coexistence among the diverse ethnic and religious groups in Nigeria especially at this critical period of economic reformation.
“Igbos people are our brothers, we have lived in the south for many years, also there are millions of Igbo people living in other parts of the country, why fight against each other?’’
He cautioned politicians against politicising IPOB attacks, which he said, should be condemned by all well meaning Nigerians to enhance national security and integration.
“Court granted bail to Kanu in the past , with a senator as a surety, but Kanu jumped bail, and here we are today.
“For Nigerian democracy to survive, there must be respect for law and order; in Francophone nations, law and order is supreme,’’ he said.
He also spoke on the need for Northern governors to engage their southern counterparts on sensitive issues like open grazing and coordination of security efforts to combat insecurity in the country.
