Kanu’s Release Would Honor Iwuanyanwu’s Legacy, Family Urges Tinubu and Southeast Leaders.

 

Aba Province, Nigeria-Biafraland.

The family of the persercuted  leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has issued a heartfelt appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to honour the memory of the late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, by releasing Kanu. 

Chief Iwuanyanwu, an Igbo elder and statesman, passed away in July 2024, and his burial is scheduled for November 2. The Kanu family believes that releasing the IPOB leader would be a fitting tribute to the late Igbo leader’s legacy.

In a statement from Kanu's brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the family called on South East governors and regional stakeholders to unite and demonstrate leadership in securing Kanu's freedom. They expressed hope that the recusal of Justice Binta Nyako from Kanu's trial opens the possibility for a political solution, citing the judge’s refusal to comply with Supreme Court orders as a significant issue for Nigeria’s international reputation.

Prince Kanu further urged President Tinubu to show the same sense of justice and fairness that led to the release of Yoruba self-determination leader Sunday Igboho. He argued that freeing Nnamdi Kanu would help address the continued marginalization of the Igbo people in Nigeria. 

Additionally, the family called for the implementation of the "Three Rs" — Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Restoration — as a means to heal the wounds from the Nigeria-Biafra War and ensure justice for the Igbo.

They also reached out to traditional and religious leaders across the region, encouraging them to create platforms for collective action toward securing Kanu’s release.

The family acknowledged that while Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s rhetoric may have offended some, it was not born out of hate. His primary concern is for the development of Biafra and ensuring equal opportunities for all its people. They emphasized that Kanu has no political ambitions in Nigeria, only a desire to see Biafra flourish.