Buhari raises hope of Igbo leaders two months ago, that he would consider a political solution on Nnamdi Kanu. He dashed it yesterday
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
President Muhammadu Buhari says during the Channels interview on January 5, that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, will have to face the full wrath of the law, to answer for his ‘abusive’ rhetoric against Nigeria.
But in November last year, Buhari assured some Igbo leaders who pleaded for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, that he would consider their request.
“You’ve made an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years, since I became president, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the judiciary,” Buhari was quoted as telling the 93-year-old leader of the delegation Mbazulike Amaechi, in a statement by his spokesman Femi Adesina.
“God has spared you, and given you a clear head at this age, with very sharp memory. A lot of people half your age are confused already. But the demand you made is heavy. I will consider it.”
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But in the Channels TV interview, Buhari said of Nnamdi Kanu: “So, we are giving him an opportunity to defend himself in our system, not to be abusing us from Europe as if he was not a Nigerian. Let him come here with us and then criticise us here. Nigerians know that I don’t interfere with the judiciary, let him be listened to. But those who are saying that he should be released, no, we cannot release him.”
This doublespeak has necessitated the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to announce that perhaps, Buhari does not understand the challenges the South East faces by subjecting Nnamdi Kanu to a criminal trial.
Ohanaeze spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia, stated this while reacting to the President’s interview on a political solution in releasing Nnamdi Kanu, according to PoliticsNigeria.
Ogbonnia said, “Ohanaeze’s position is very clear and constant. We have looked at the whole scenario and we are convinced that Nnamdi Kanu’s case and IPOB can only be solved through a political solution. It is unfortunate that the Presidency or the president hasn’t appreciated the Ohanaeze position and by extension the Igbo position or the Igbo leadership position on this matter. But we are very confident that by the time we will meet him early this year he will understand it more.”
