Obasanjo: Nnamdi Kanu’s Release Not Discussed in Meeting with South-East Governors
Enugu, Nigeria — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo clarified that the issue of releasing Nnamdi Kanu was not part of his discussion with the South-East governors during their meeting in Enugu State on Tuesday. The former President and Chief Emeka Anyaoku met with the governors at their own invitation to discuss regional development issues.
In a statement released on Wednesday by Kehinde Akinyemi, Special Assistant on Media to the former president, Obasanjo emphasized that the purported release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the Federal Government was not on the agenda.
“The meeting with them was at my invitation and of Chief Emeka Anyaoku before their summit begins. The issue of Nnamdi Kanu was not on the agenda and was not discussed in my presence,” Obasanjo stated.
He outlined that the regional development issues discussed included security, infrastructure, economic cooperation, and collaboration aimed at complementing the national economic development agenda.
Since his re-arrest in Kenya in 2021, Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) on the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Although Kanu pleaded not guilty to the charges, Justice Binta Nyako declined to admit him to bail, citing his previous bail jump where Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe was his surety.
There have been recent calls from various quarters for Kanu’s release. Among those advocating for his release are Senators from the South-East, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. The lawmakers argued that the continued detention of Kanu has caused social and economic stagnation in the South-East region. They held a closed-door meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, delivering a letter to President Tinubu requesting Kanu’s release.
Additionally, former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, called for Kanu’s release during a chat with journalists on Saturday. Obi argued that there was no justification for Kanu’s continuous detention, given that a Nigerian court had earlier acquitted him, although the Supreme Court later overturned that acquittal.
The meeting between Obasanjo, Anyaoku, and the South-East governors focused on enhancing regional development and security, aiming to create a cooperative framework to support national economic growth.
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