Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), is being pushed for release by House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. President Bola Tinubu and Kalu recently met, according to Kalu, who discussed the need for Igbo elders to come to him regarding challenges impacting the Southeast, particularly insecurity. “When I last saw Mr. President, I talked to him about how important it is for the Igboland elders to visit, sit down, and converse with him. I’m aware that our brother Kanu would be discussed there, according to a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu.
In a statement provided to reporters yesterday, Kalu said he was speaking at the special “The Ben Kalu’s Mandate” radio broadcast on FLO FM in Umuahia, Abia State. The deputy speaker also said that the Igbo elders would congratulate him for “all the good things, including the appointments, he has given to Igbo people” and that they would talk about the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC), which has already received approval from the National Assembly.
As an individual, Kalu stated that he thought a political solution might quickly bring about the much-needed peace in the Southeast, even as the IPOB leader’s treason trial proceeded. He said he would not want to leave Kanu behind because they are brothers from the same place.
His words: “Peace in Southeast Project (PISE-P) has reconcilation in the mix of what we are trying to achieve. We recognise the importance of our brother, Nnamdi Kanu, in the peace agenda we are pushing. That’s the truth.
“I have been very vocal about it. I am not hiding it. I have always told people that I will never deny Nnamdi Kanu. He’s my brother. We come from the same place and I will never be happy having him incarcerated when we can have him out and increase our pursuit towards peace.
“But we may not advance all the things we are doing backdoor but I can assure you that all the powers-that-be in this country know that people like us are not sitting on the fence”.
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Nnamdi Kanu’s recent statement separating IPOB from Southeast Asian bloodshed pleased the deputy speaker.
He said: “I am happy with the statement that he made the last time he was in court. He said all those who are causing violence are not IPOB people, that anybody who is using his name to be causing violence is a hater of Ndi Igbo.
“Igbos are not known for violence. We are known for trade and being creative. Call it Nollywood, we are the engine room that started the creative industry. We are not thieves, not known for violence. We put our energy towards creating wealth.”
“We are not killers and anybody coming now to introduce what is strange to us, it’s either the person is not an Igbo man or we should question where he is coming from.
“Burning things down is not how we show our strength. How we show our strength is that when we enter your community, we make wealth to better our lives. That’s our strength.
“I am happy he sounded that warning. I am happy we are coming together to achieve it. “
The deputy speaker called on ndi Igbo to support the Tinubu government as it struggles to tackle problems it inherited.
His words: “Let’s be calm. Let’s support this government. And I want to thank the people of the south east for not joining the protest. I want to thank Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo for sending out messages and saying no, we should not protest too. Number one reason: The President from the South. He didn’t create the problem. He’s also giving us appointments. So, we must give him the support.
“As we are asking Mr. President to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for us and giving us South East Development Commission, we must on the other show him loyalty by making sure that there is peace in our area.”
