Why Tinubu Is Suddenly Interested In Ekweremadu’s Release — Mahdi Shehu

Social critic and activist, Mahdi Shehu, has questioned what he called President Bola Tinubu’s sudden efforts to secure the release of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu from a UK prison, describing the move as politically motivated and tied to preparations for the 2027 general election.

In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, Shehu claimed that the President’s decision to establish a high-powered committee to engage the United Kingdom government over Ekweremadu’s imprisonment was not driven by humanitarian concern but by strategic political calculations.

“President Tinubu suddenly woke up from his diplomatic slumber and remembered Ekweremadu, who has been in prison since his conviction in 2023 for organ trafficking,” Shehu wrote.

He highlighted that the intervention came at a time when Nigeria currently lacks a substantive High Commissioner to the UK, a role that could have handled the matter more effectively through regular diplomatic channels.

“The UK justice system is nearly watertight. The opportunity to resolve the Ekweremadu issue was lost long ago,” Shehu noted, adding that the only realistic option left for Nigeria would be to explore a prisoner transfer agreement, if such a treaty exists and has been executed between both countries.

Shehu further argued that Tinubu’s move was less about compassion and more about political optics ahead of the next general election.

“My take is that Tinubu is using the Jamboree trip to signal care and concern because the election is approaching, and Ekweremadu is the only visible Ndi-Igbo not yet ‘on the train’ from Bombay to Goa. With him on board, Ndi-Igbo will be finally captured,” he wrote.

He also contended that other Nigerians convicted or detained abroad would not receive similar attention, as their release would hold little political value for the President. “Such is the visible miscalculation,” Mahdi Shehu added.