A faction of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organization has countered the remarks made by former Militant leader, Asari Dokubo, who opposed the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from custody. The Igbo group argues that Kanu’s continued incarceration has led to severe insecurity in the Southeast region, calling for his release through a presidential pardon.
The faction’s Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, emphasizes that Kanu’s detention is destabilizing the Southeast’s economy. In contrast, Asari Dokubo, during his visit to President Bola Tinubu, claimed that Kanu should not be released, asserting that it would reward criminality and the murder of innocent people.
However, Isiguzoro implored President Bola Tinubu to release Kanu in the interest of national unity.
Isiguzoro outlines, “Asari Dokubo’s grandfather is Igbo from a place called Abam in the Arochukwu area of Abia State, so he’s our grandson. We understand there was a little misunderstanding between him and our son, Nnamdi Kanu.”
“Dokubo is entitled to his opinion. In the past few years, there have been accusations between Asari and Kanu regarding the training of IPOB members, and it generated verbal tantrums,” he adds.
The Ohanaeze representative further highlights that Asari Dokubo received shelter from an Ohanaeze member, Uche Okwukwu, when he was previously declared wanted by the Nigerian government, noting his assistance to Kanu in the past.
“Igbos demanding Kanu’s release is not because they are against him facing the law, but his continued incarceration has destabilized and crumpled the economy of the Southeast; it has brought untold hardship, unimaginable insecurity to the region, which has affected schools and some governors losing control of their states,” Isiguzoro explains.
He concludes by urging for unity in the country and calling for a presidential pardon from Tinubu, who was not responsible for Kanu’s incarceration, for all prisoners of conscience, including Kanu, Henry Okah, and others, as Nigeria is currently divided along ethnic and religious lines.
“A lot of criminals will capitalize on Kanu’s incarceration to cause havoc, which would make things too bad,” Isiguzoro warns.
