The National President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, has called on President Bola Tinubu to facilitate the release of Nnamdi Kanu from prison, in the interest of national reconciliation.
Igboayaka made the appeal in his Independence Day message on Thursday, arguing that October 1 should remind the government of the values of justice, liberty, dialogue and national reconciliation.
Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, was convicted on seven terrorism-related charges and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Abuja on November 20, 2025. He has challenged the proceedings and rejected the court’s authority.
Describing Kanu’s ordeal as an “open wound” among Ndigbo, Igboayaka urged Tinubu to explore every lawful political option capable of reducing tensions and rebuilding confidence in the South-East.
He said, “We cannot speak about freedom, independence and the sacrifices of our past heroes while ignoring the divisions and grievances that continue to affect our people today.
“Independence should remind us of the value of liberty and the responsibility of government to build trust among its citizens.”
The Ohanaeze youth leader stressed that his appeal was not a rejection of the judicial process but a call for dialogue and reconciliation.
According to him, the controversy surrounding Kanu’s case has remained a sensitive issue in the South-East and requires a broader national conversation.
He urged the President to engage relevant stakeholders and explore a peaceful and lawful approach that could help rebuild confidence between the Federal Government and people in the region who feel alienated from the national project.
Igboayaka also called for what he described as a renewed commitment to justice and equity, saying the South-East had suffered deprivation since the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970.
He said Tinubu had an opportunity to make national healing part of the legacy of his administration.
“Those who enjoy Nigeria independence, but conspired against Nnamdi Kanu, a leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, have murdered sleep and they will sleep no more,” Igboayaka stated.
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