The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed disappointment over the failure of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to allegedly keep his promise of releasing the Biafra agitator.
Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, in a statement, claimed that there was an alleged agreement between Tinubu’s son Seyi, and the family before the 2023 general election.
According to him, it was agreed that IPOB would not boycott the polls on the condition that Tinubu would release Kanu if elected President.
He claimed that Seyi with the approval of his father, personally met with him in Abuja shortly before the election, where both parties agreed on conditions for Kanu’s release.
Emmanuel expressed disappointment that nearly two years after the emergence of Tinubu as President, his brother (Kanu), has continued to languish in detention despite the fact that the presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako recused herself from the matter.
”Before the last election, I received a message from an ex-governor that Seyi, the son of President Tinubu, wanted to see me,” he said.
“I agreed to meet with him on the condition that the overriding priority and hence the fulcrum of our discussion will be the release of my brother.
“The meeting was held in Abuja in the presence of another individual whom I asked along to witness the deliberations and provide independent verification should the need arise.”
Recently, IPOB berated Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo for suggesting that the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, may not resolve insecurity in Nigeria’s Southeast region.
Soludo, during a recent interview on Arise TV, implied that some individuals responsible for insecurity in the Southeast claim to be acting in Kanu’s name.
IPOB argued that releasing its leader would expose and discredit such elements, effectively eliminating any justification for their actions.
IPOB expressed disappointment in Soludo, questioning why he would deviate from his initial support for Kanu’s release.,
The outlawed group also highlighted Kanu’s past efforts in combating insecurity, particularly his role in addressing the activities of armed herdsmen in the region.
IPOB also credited Kanu and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) with ending what it described as the “slaughter and humiliation” of the Igbo people during the peak of herdsmen attacks
Kanu has been in detention since 2021 after being re-arrested by Nigerian authorities. IPOB has consistently demanded his unconditional release, insisting that his freedom is essential for peace and stability in the Southeast.