Public affairs commentator and human rights advocate Chijioke Nwachukwu has decried recent comments by the minister of works, Dave Umahi, on the possible release of Nnamdi Kanu, describing them as “deeply offensive” and a “betrayal of the Igbo people.”
Nwachukwu called Umahi’s remarks “deeply disappointing” and said they do not reflect the sentiments of the Igbo community.
In a statement issued to journalists yesterday in Abuja, Nwachukwu referenced a July 5 report by one of the national dailies in which Umahi reportedly said that Kanu’s release should not be used as a political tool to garner support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
“Let it be clearly stated: Dave Umahi does not speak for Ndigbo,” Nwachukwu asserted. “He speaks for himself and others who have consistently placed political interests above the collective welfare of their people.”
He emphasised that Kanu’s ongoing detention should be viewed as a matter of law and human rights, not as a subject for political negotiation.
Citing various legal decisions, including a 2022 ruling by the Nigerian Court of Appeal and a June 24, 2025, judgment by Kenya’s High Court, Nwachukwu argued that these rulings support the call for Kanu’s release.
“That a government official still suggests Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s fate is subject to political calculus is regrettable,” the statement read.
Nwachukwu challenged Umahi to engage directly with the South Eastern public through town hall meetings, stating that many constituents would likely disagree with his position.
He also cautioned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against treating Kanu’s detention as a political issue, warning that it could have electoral consequences in 2027.
“To continue down this path is to disregard the sentiments and experiences of many in the Southeast and among the wider diaspora,” he said.
Regarding Umahi’s political stance, Nwachukwu questioned his consistency, stating that it appeared to be more aligned with shifting power dynamics than with principled positions.
The statement concluded with a call for the federal government to uphold the rule of law and comply with existing court rulings.
“History will not look favorably on those who ignore justice,” he added. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in detention since his controversial return from Kenya in 2021, a development that has prompted international concern and ongoing legal debates.
