President Muhammadu Buhari has come under attacks following the contined detention of the leader of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, despite an appeal court ruling that granted him freedom
The President has therefore been told to honour his earlier stance on the ongoing trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
It would be recalled that the President Buhari had while rejecting the plea from leaders of the South East for an unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, insisted that only the court would decide his fate.
Responding to appeals by traditional, religious and political leaders in the region for the release of the detained leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, the president had said:
‘‘I have listened carefully to the various appeals from the elders to the traditional leaders regarding a wide range of options, and as I have said previously this matter remains in the full purview of the courts where it will be properly adjudicated.”
However, just last week, the IPOB leader was acquitted by the Court of Appeal.
But the euphoria that greeted the court order is gradually dying down, with the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami declaring that Kanu would not be released anytime soon.
Reacting to the federal position, National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said President Buhari should show leadership by respecting his own words.
Okwu in a statement he issued Tuesday, said, “it is a source of worry that the Buhari-led presidency is foot-dragging in obeying the Appeal Court’s order on Nnamdi Kanu.
“Recall that Igbo leaders, including the international community had at several times asked the President to apply a political solution to Kanu’s case but he said the court would decide on that. Now that the court has ruled in Kanu’s favour, the supposed Chief law officer of the federation, Abubakar Malami is busy deceiving the government.
“We ask Mr. President to show leadership; he should respect the rule of law; for the federal government of Nigeria to disobey valid orders of court is sending the wrong signal to the citizens and the international community.”
“The President should without hesitation order the DSS to comply with that order and free Kanu in order to ensure total peace and security in the South-East and the South-South,” Okwu stated.
Also, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to obey the judgement of the Court of Appeal and order the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu in the interest of peace in the country, the South East Zone, in particular.
In a statement yesterday, the PANDEF leader stated that most Nigerians greeted the judgement with elation, mainly in the South East, adding that it would be detrimental for the Federal Government to still keep Kanu in detention and provide any pretext for malefactors to continue to take advantage of the situation in perpetrating all sorts of atrocities in the zone.
The statement read: “Even though certain activities of Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB followers have been a nuisance and very disturbing, the Federal Government went too far in going all the way to Kenya to abduct him on the ground that he jumped bail.
“I remember that when the leaders, elders and Traditional Rulers of the South East pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari during a meeting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, to release Kanu and other pro-Biafra agitators in detention, the President responded that Nnamdi Kanu’s fate will be decided by the court.
And even when they (Igbo leaders) visited him at Aso Rock, the President again said the matter was no longer in his hand and the security agencies, but in the hand of the Judiciary and that whatever the Court decides would be final.
“Now that the Court of Appeal has given its judgement on the matter, I am imploring the President to obey the judgement of the Court and release the young man, and allow peace to reign. At this time, when insecurity is the order of the day, anything that would enhance the peace and stability of the country must be embraced.
“The issue as to whether Nnamdi Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted by the Court of Appeal has been decided by the Supreme Court to the extent that sometimes a discharge is the end of a case whereas at other times it may not be so regarded.
“Nonetheless, the judgement of the three-member Panel of the Court of Appeal, which discharged Nnamdi Kanu is explicit and total and requires no further theatrics. “Can any responsible government, anywhere in the world, challenge such a judgement?
I do not think so! It is rather shocking that the Federal Government is said to be considering what to do next on the matter. “The unity of Nigeria can only be achieved and sustained if every part of the country is treated equally with the other parts, in all ramifications.
No one can play God over Nigeria and no section owns this country more than any other section. We want Mr. President to reassure Nigerians of our oneness.”
