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SOME Igbo leaders under the aegis of Nzuko Umunna, an Igbo group, have demanded the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, February 28, Charles Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, described the continued detention of Kanu as unacceptable and an abuse of the IPOB leader’s right to ‘legitimate agitation.”

Soludo, who was in the company of other Igbo leaders including Pat Utomi, a former presidential candidate, and Sam Amadi, a former head of Nigeria’s electricity regulator, said Nigeria could not thrive in an atmosphere devoid of the “democratic freedom of speech.”

The leaders also condemned the failure of the federal government and its security agencies to obey court rulings, saying the “plan by government to only obey favourable court rulings” is unhealthy for the peace of Nigeria.

Soludo said: ‎”We visited Nnamdi Kanu to hear his own point of view as well as share our own point of view with him.

“We believe that Nigeria has the potential to be great, and like most countries has its own challenges.

“Nigeria has never been more divided than now. Most discerning patriots have come to the conclusion that Nigeria has currently structured is destined to be a failed state‎.

“It is our considered view that most of the agitation is in response to a looting elite. We do not condone violence.

“We note that in 2015 Nigerians voted for change. As the ruling party, the APC has it duty to deliver to the Nigerian people.

“So far APC seems to have abandoned its cardinal duty to Nigeria.”

Kanu, whose group is calling for an independent Igbo country of Biafra, is being prosecuted for treason by the Nigeria government.

—  Feb 28, 2017 @ 17:00 GMT

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