A former attorney-general of Imo State, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), has called for a political solution to the detention and release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
He sighted the cases of Oduduwa nation’s activist, Sunday Igboho, and Miyetti Allah president, Abdullahi Bello Dadejo, resolved through a political solution as an example to facilitate his freedom to restore peace in the South-East.
Ume, who also serves as the Rapporteur on Victims of Persecution, noted that President Bola Tinubu’s early release of Kanu will not be a sign of weakness but a demonstration of political wisdom and statesmanship.
He appealed in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, titled: “Healing the wounds in our Nation-building efforts and matching Nigeria towards a new sustainable nation.”
The senior advocate of Nigeria, who drew the president’s attention to Kanu’s travails from October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by operatives of the Department of Security Service (DSS) over some terrorism-related allegations to his arraignment in court on October 23, 2015, lamented that the IPOB leader is fast becoming a prisoner of conscience.
While advocating for the early release of Kanu he added that doing so will not only de-escalate tensions in the South East but also present an opportunity to turn a new page in the nation’s history -one that prioritises peace, justice and the collective well-being of all citizens.
The letter dated February 24, 2025, has already been received by the attorney general of the federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, on behalf of the president.
The letter further drew the attention of President Tinubu to similar agitations in other parts of the country, notably in the South West and Niger Delta, where the government has exercised wonderful discretion to de-escalate tensions and promote dialogue.
Ume referenced explicitly the cases of Sunday Igboho, the Oduduwa nation activist, Abdullahi Bello Dadejo (who despite alleged security concerns tied to their activities and Nigerians living in IDP camps in their fatherlands), benefited from the AGF’s nolle prosequi, leading to the withdrawal of charges against him, and in the Niger Delta where the government has overtime adopted programmes to address long-standing grievances, rather than incarceration of key figures.
Parts of the letter read: “Your Excellency, I believe that a political, peaceful, and reconciliatory approach will serve the country better and provide a robust step towards healing national wounds, restoring economic stability, and reaffirming our commitment to unity in diversity.
“Your Excellency, great leaders are not defined by their ability to suppress opposition but by their ability to unify, heal, and reconcile. The release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will not be a sign of weakness but a demonstration of political wisdom and statesmanship. It presents an opportunity to turn a new page in Nigeria’s history -one that prioritises peace, justice, and the collective well-being of all citizens. His evolving perspectives, shaped by time and reflection, can be harnessed as a valuable resource in our journey towards a more unified and prosperous nation.”
In further urging the president to consider the escalating security crisis in the South East, which is “tragically transforming into a theatre of war following Kanu’s incarceration, Ume appealed to him to “reflect on the pleas of our late Sages -Chief Mbazurike Amaechi; Prof. George Achulike Obiozo, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu; Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Edwin Clerk, who spent their final years advocating for peace, unity, national healing and requesting for his release. Though now silent, their voices remain an enduring call for statesmanship and fairness.”
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