President Muhammadu Buhari has reject the request by Igbo leaders for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, insisting that the latter must defend himself in court.
On Friday, traditional, religious and political leaders from the South-East made the appeal when they met with Mr Buhari at a Town Hall meeting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi.
President Buhari was on a two-day working visit to Ebonyi State for project inaugurations and interface with the South-East leaders where he commissioned life-touching projects in the state on Thursday.
Recall that in November 2021, a delegation of Igbo leaders, led by respected 93-year-old First Republic minister Mbazulike Amaechi, visited Mr Buhari at the State House Abuja to plead for the release of Mr Kanu.
The president told them that he would “think” about the “extremely difficult demand” the South-East leaders had placed on him.
Buhari also frowned at the brutal activities of terrorists in the South-East and other parts of the country saying that his administration is still committed to protecting and defending innocent citizens from those bent on causing breakdown of law and order across the country.
The president expressed worry over the rising case of insecurity in the region, adding that his directive to security agencies to flush out those perpetrating violence in the land.
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi, who appreciated the president for his visit to Ebonyi, reiterated his position for a political solution to the Nnamdi Kanu dilemma.
Others who spoke at the event including the Chairman, South East Traditional Rulers, Eze Charles Mkpumah and the Chairman, Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-East, Rev. Abraham Nwali, appealed for the release of Kanu.
(Journalist101 )
