President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, urged South-East leaders to allow the court to determine the fate of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Buhari said this at a meeting with Igbo leaders at the New Government House in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
The President was responding to an earlier plea by Igbo leaders for the release of Kanu and Igbo other youths in detention across the country.
The demand of the Igbo leaders was contained in an address read on their behalf by the Chairman of South-East Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Charles Mkpuma.
Buhari had during the week begun a two-day working visit to Ebonyi with the inauguration of projects at King David University of Medical Sciences, Uburu.
His aircraft landed at Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu at about 10. a.m. on Wednesday, where he was received by Governor Dave Umahi of and some governors of the APC, including the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and his Jigawa counterpart, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, were also in the state to welcome President Buhari to Ebonyi.
Buhari will end his visit to Ebonyi with a closed-door meeting with the South-East leaders in Abakaliki before departing for Abuja on Friday.
On Tuesday, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo had in a statement said Buhari’s two-day working visit to Ebonyi would kick-start the process to effect the release of the IPOB leader.
According to the statement, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has given assurances of peace and security ahead of the planned presidential visit to Ebonyi State.
“This is part of the resolutions reached at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Elders council meeting held in Abakiliki on Tuesday 3rd May 2022.
“For translucence and clarity of purpose, President Muhammadu Buhari has been fair to Ndigbo with federal projects irrespective of the fact that his party’s declined fortunes and acceptance in 2015 and 2019 elections in the southeast, but the Chairman of Southeast Governors and Ebonyi Governor, Engr Dave Nweze Umahi has brought good tidings and paid huge sacrifices for Ndigbo to access the presidency and attract federal government’s projects and attention to the southeast zone.
“The Elders council was presided over by Prince Dr Richard Ozobu insisted that this is the best opportunity for Igbo leaders with the southeast Governors to dialogue with President Buhari over the release of the Ipob leader Mazi Nnamdi Kalu.
“Ndigbo expectations are that such windows of opportunities must be fully utilized for positive results as President Buhari will be received warmly by Ndigbo, this will be one of the most remarkable visits of Mr President to the southeast, as we except that the President’s two days working visit to Ebonyi state will change the narratives that Buhari loves Ndigbo, and he will prove it by kick-starting the process that will release Nnamdi Kanu”.
“IPOB and other Biafra Agitators should hold their peace and remain loyal to the procedure that will help them achieve the release of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Buhari’s visit will usher in fresh hopes of having a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction and secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
”We are conscious of the fact that IPOB is cognisant of the process of releasing their leader is ongoing, and their proper attitudes and conduct are expected to solidify the process of Kanu’s release.
“We are welcoming President Buhari with an open mind and wish him a pleasant stay in Ebonyi State.”
