Olayomi Koiki
The former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dimm Uchechukwu Nnam Okwukwu, has asked Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu to restore peace in the South-East region.
Okwukwu urged the president to use the security resources being expended on the south-eastern region to fight terrorists in the north.
In an open letter dated November 25, 2025, and signed by him, Okwukwu said he had noticed one constant factor that would help Tinubu in no small measure in ensuring what he called “the success of his government and a historic tenure”.
“That one factor is the matter of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whose continued detention is undoubtedly convulsing the southeast, in particular and the Nigerian polity, in general,” he said.
“Mr. President, I am aware that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s matter is still pending trial in court. But the question is this: Is trial the only way forward in resolving his matter? With due respect, I do not think so.”
Okwukwu stressed that Kanu’s matter was beyond the province of the courts because it was more of a political issue than a legal issue for the judiciary.
“As such, it lies within the executive prerogatives of the office of the President to exercise sound presidential discretion in bringing immediate closure to the matter, once and for all,” the former Ohanaeze leader said.
“Your Excellency, the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu bears more advantages than disadvantages, some of which are: peace and tranquility will return to Southeast and the law enforcement resources of the nation currently deployed to Southeast will be freed and redeployed to fight more serious crimes like banditry and terrorism in Northern Nigeria.
“For above reasons, I strongly and respectfully urge Your Excellency to, without further ado, direct that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu be released unconditionally or under some other arrangements Your Excellency may deem proper and fit in the circumstances of the matter.”