Former Attorney-General of Imo State, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, has called on President Bola Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). In a letter sent through the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, Ume urged the government to reconsider its approach, emphasizing the need for dialogue over force.
Ume described Kanu’s seven-year detention as unjust and a result of political misunderstandings. He criticized the Nigerian government for using suppression rather than negotiation, arguing that fairness and inclusivity are the pillars of true federalism.
“The indivisibility of Nigeria should not serve as a framework for ethnic hegemony,” Ume stated, drawing parallels with Canada’s peaceful resolution of the Quebec sovereignty movement.
He recounted the timeline of Kanu’s legal battles, highlighting the military raid on his home in 2017, which forced him to flee. Ume also condemned the government’s continued defiance of court orders regarding Kanu’s release, saying such actions erode public trust.
Citing past interventions by respected elder statesmen, including Chief Edwin Clark and Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Ume urged Tinubu to demonstrate leadership by choosing reconciliation over repression.
“The release of Kanu would not be a sign of weakness, but a step toward national unity,” he concluded.
