Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has voiced her belief that President Bola Tinubu will take steps to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
During the 13th memorial anniversary of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in Owerri on Tuesday, Ambassador Ojukwu expressed her conviction that President Tinubu recognizes the significance of Kanu’s release. She contended that releasing Kanu would help reveal the criminal elements that have exploited his detention to commit serious offenses in the Southeast.
In her address themed “Unifying the Igbo Race,” Bianca Ojukwu called for an end to the ongoing violence in the Southeast, highlighting that the Igbo community is not characterized by inflicting harm upon its own. She emphasized the necessity for united efforts to reclaim the region from the grips of crime and insecurity.
“The release of Nnamdi Kanu is crucial for distinguishing true freedom fighters from those criminals who are wreaking havoc in the Southeast. Our people are facing dire threats, and we must take action to restore peace,” she stated.
Bianca Ojukwu with her late husband Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu
She expressed concern that, years after Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu’s passing, the Southeast has become synonymous with violence and insecurity, leading many to abandon their homes.
“Communities are deserted. Our esteemed sons and daughters have fled. Kidnappers now target their own for ransom. This is not the legacy Dim Ojukwu envisioned,” she remarked.
In her appeal for Nnamdi Kanu’s release, Bianca Ojukwu emphasized the necessity for President Tinubu to act, asserting that Kanu’s freedom would aid in identifying those criminals who hide behind IPOB to cause chaos.
“President Tinubu understands the critical nature of Kanu’s release. It will unveil the perpetrators behind the violence and assist in restoring order. I am committed to doing everything possible to ensure that His Excellency fulfills this request,” she affirmed.
Additionally, she condemned the enforcement of violent “sit-at-home” orders in the Southeast, stating that such actions contradict the principles of self-determination. Mrs. Ojukwu also pointed out that the “ongoing violence has not only affected the physical safety of the people but has also had a detrimental impact on the region’s economy. She noted that businesses are suffering, and the once-thriving markets are now shadowed by fear and uncertainty. “Economic activities have been stifled, and our people are suffering. We cannot allow this to continue. It is time for us to rise and take back our region,” she urged.
