The family of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has once again criticized South-East Governors for their failure to take decisive action toward securing his release.
Speaking on Friday at a memorial service for their late parents, HRM Eze Israel and Ugoeze Sally Kanu, in Umuahia, Prince Emmanuel Kanu expressed deep disappointment over what he described as a lack of commitment from the governors.
He alleged that President Bola Tinubu had outlined certain conditions for Kanu’s release, yet the governors had made no efforts to act on them.
“South-East Governors are not doing enough to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. It’s either they are complicit or indifferent. The big question remains: Why have they not met with Mr. President on this matter?” Prince Emmanuel asked.
He further stated that if the governors were genuinely interested in Kanu’s freedom, they would have sought an audience with President Tinubu to negotiate his release.
“Are they benefitting from the unrest in the South-East? Free Nnamdi Kanu today, and the tension will disappear within 24 hours. That way, we will identify those using the agitation as a cover for criminal activities in the region,” he added.
The family also condemned Justice Binta Nyako’s indefinite adjournment of Kanu’s trial, pointing out that she had previously withdrawn from the case and therefore lacked the jurisdiction to preside over it.
“Why is she forcing herself on this case? Does she have a vested interest in it? She has repeatedly refused every request to transfer Nnamdi Kanu to a prison facility, leaving him in harsh conditions at the DSS detention center,” the family asserted.
They called on the international community to intervene, maintaining that Kanu had committed no offense warranting his continued detention.
Elders from the former Eastern region also joined the call for Kanu’s release. High Chief Agonsi Ebere, leader of the Elders in Biafra land, described Kanu’s parents as martyrs for the Biafra cause, attributing their deaths to the trauma they endured after the military raided their residence in 2017.
“We are here to honor our leaders who sacrificed everything for Biafra’s freedom,” Ebere said, urging the Federal Government to heed the growing demands for Kanu’s release.
Similarly, Aniekan Ekanem, the Akwa Ibom regional head of a pro-Biafra group, dismissed claims that the Biafra movement is solely an Igbo agenda.
“Biafra is not just for the Igbo people. It encompasses the entire Old Eastern region, including Akwa Ibom, which is known as ‘Igbo Nta.’ We share deep cultural and historical ties,” Ekanem explained.
The memorial event witnessed a massive turnout of supporters from across the South-East and South-South states, including Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, reflecting the widespread backing for Kanu’s cause.
Prince Emmanuel Kanu reiterated the family’s call for his brother’s unconditional release, insisting that the concerns Kanu had raised deserved meaningful dialogue rather than prolonged imprisonment.
“The people stand firmly behind him because he is advocating for justice,” he emphasized.
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