South East
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Urges Tinubu to Release Nnamdi Kanu Ahead of Democracy Day
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant unconditional release to Nnamdi Kanu, stating that such a move would not affect his chances in the 2027 general elections.
In a press statement issued on March 31, 2026, and signed by its Deputy President General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and National Spokesman, Thomson Ohia, the group argued that Kanu’s agitation has been widely misunderstood.
Ohanaeze stated that Kanu’s advocacy aligns with the philosophy of Odumegwu Ojukwu, particularly the concept of “Biafra of the Mind,” which it described as a non-secessionist ideology aimed at drawing attention to the marginalisation of the Southeast.
‘Kanu Not a Secessionist’ — Ohanaeze
The group noted that Kanu began his activism in 2001 under the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra led by Ralph Uwazuruike, before later establishing Radio Biafra in London.
According to Ohanaeze, his campaign was initially non-violent but evolved amid rising insecurity and tensions during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The organisation claimed that Kanu’s message was later distorted by individuals pursuing personal interests, as well as diaspora influences shaped by Nigeria’s global image at the time.
Appeal for Presidential Amnesty
Ohanaeze urged President Tinubu to consider granting Kanu a presidential pardon before the Democracy Day Nigeria, citing what it described as a precedent in the release of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The group maintained that releasing Kanu from detention at Sokoto Correctional Facility would promote national unity and strengthen Tinubu’s political standing ahead of the 2027 elections.
It also warned that opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, could exploit Kanu’s continued detention as a political tool.
Calls for Southeast Development
Ohanaeze further emphasised the need for the Federal Government to address longstanding infrastructural deficits in the Southeast, which it said date back to the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War.
The group, however, commended the Tinubu administration for ongoing reconstruction projects, including the reopening of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
It expressed confidence that the President would consider its appeal and facilitate Kanu’s release in 2026, urging the IPOB leader to comply with any conditions attached to such a decision.
