Umuahia, Abia State – In a heartfelt plea for national unity, Professor Greg Ibe, the Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as a parting gift to the Igbo people.
As President Buhari’s second tenure draws to a close on May 29, 2023, Professor Ibe addressed an open letter to the President, urging him to heed the numerous appeals for Kanu’s release. The letter, made available to Vanguard in Umuahia, emphasized the importance of embracing dialogue and reconciliation in resolving the issues surrounding Kanu.
Recognizing the disenchantment felt by Ndigbo over their perceived exclusion and persecution, Professor Ibe stressed that Kanu’s prolonged detention has only worsened the situation. He acknowledged that Kanu had become a symbol representing the hopes, frustrations, and grievances of many Igbo people, regardless of differing opinions about his actions and rhetoric.
According to Professor Ibe, dialogue and engagement should be prioritized over continued detention as a means to address the concerns associated with Kanu. He implored President Buhari to demonstrate magnanimity and statesmanship by releasing Kanu, which would signify the government’s commitment to the concerns and aspirations of all Nigerian citizens, irrespective of ethnicity.
The APGA Governorship candidate further argued that Kanu’s release would foster national healing, reconciliation, and unity, particularly in light of the upcoming political distribution of offices in the new administration, which is currently perceived as unfavorable to Ndigbo.
Professor Ibe highlighted examples of activists who, after receiving similar privileges in the past, had transformed into productive citizens contributing to societal growth. He cited individuals like Asari Dokubo, Government Tompolo, and Sunday Igboho, whose release from detention had led to the stabilization of their respective regions.
Suggesting a specific course of action, Professor Ibe proposed that President Buhari hand over Nnamdi Kanu to a special team consisting of United Nations representatives and leaders from Ohanaeze Ndigbo. He noted that as a royal prince of the Ossah Ancient Kingdom in Abia State, Kanu could be a fitting replacement on the traditional throne that has remained vacant since his father’s passing in 2019.
The APGA Governorship candidate assured President Buhari that the release and subsequent enthronement of Kanu during the season of embracing the new government in Abia State, led by Dr. Alex Otti, would usher in a renewed sense of hope and possibility for the reintegration of Ndigbo into the Nigerian nation.
As President Buhari’s tenure nears its end, Professor Greg Ibe’s appeal for the release of Nnamdi Kanu resonates with the desire for national unity and reconciliation, offering a potential path toward healing the disunity experienced in certain regions of the country.
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