Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has clarified that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was not part of his discussions with South East governors during their recent meeting in Enugu.
Obasanjo stated that the primary focus of his meeting with the governors, which was also attended by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, a former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, was on regional development issues. He emphasized that the conversation centered on security, infrastructure, and economic cooperation, aligning with the national economic development agenda.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo noted, “The regional development issues discussed include that of security and infrastructure. Others were economic and cooperative/collaboration, which was meant to complement the national economic development agenda.”
He further clarified, “The meeting with them was at my invitation and of Chief Emeka Anyaoku before their summit begins. The issue of Nnamdi Kanu was not on the agenda and was not discussed in my presence.”
This clarification comes amid reports that the South-East Governors Forum had resolved to engage with President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to facilitate Kanu’s release. The resolution was made during a separate meeting of the governors in Enugu, which lasted approximately six hours and included all five South-East governors: Peter Mbah (Enugu), Alex Otti (Abia), Prof Charles Soludo (Anambra), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), and Senator Hope Uzodimma (Imo).
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In their five-point communique, the governors outlined their commitment to implementing the recommendations of the South-East Security and Economic Summit held in Owerri in September last year. The communique also stated, “The Forum resolved to visit Mr. President to discuss pressing issues concerning the South-East region. The Forum also resolved to interface with the Federal Government to secure the release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.”
Additionally, the forum expressed condolences over the passing of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the first civilian governor of Abia State.
This development highlights the ongoing complexities and regional efforts to address significant political and economic issues in the South-East, distinct from the broader discussions involving national leadership figures like Obasanjo.
