The Deputy Speaker of the Lower Chamber, Benjamin Kalu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to release the embattled leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from detainment.
The IPOB leader has been in detainment since he was repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021 under controversial conditions. He is being arraigned for alleged terrorism by the Nigerian government at a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kalu made the appeal while briefing journalists after the inaugural meeting of the Lower Chamber committee on South-East Development Commission (SEDC) at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
“We are appealing to him to temper justice with mercy and release Nnamdi Kanu to southeast people. It will ensure more security for our people and spring up development that this SEDC is going to bring,” he stated.
“We noticed that the insecurity there will be reduced if Nnamdi Kanu is released. We want Nnamdi Kanu to be released because we know it will give our people more security.”
He noted that President Tinubu has demonstrated his love for the Southeasterners through his speedy consent to the South East Development Commission Bill, which failed in previous assemblies.
Kalu likewise suggested the adoption of political approach in settling the crisis in the region rather than the ongoing legal option, adding that the people of the region will be unceasingly thankful to the President if that turns into a reality.
“Those who are using him as excuses to perpetrate all these criminal actions around our area will have no other reason to be on the street. Then the police and security agencies will catch anyone who claims Nnamdi Kanu is the reason for causing harm to the people of South-East.
“So, we are begging, you can’t coerce the President, he’s the Commander in Chief. All we are saying is use political approach not the legal approach,” he stated.
