Igbo ministers accuse South East governors of failing to act on Nnamdi Kanu’s release
On Thursday, January 8, 2025, a group of Igbo ministers strongly criticized the South East governors, accusing them of not taking enough action in the ongoing fight for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a prominent leader of the Igbo Nation. Kanu has been detained by the federal government for three years, following a court order.
In an open letter addressed to the South East governors, the ministers expressed their disappointment over what they called “lip service” regarding Kanu’s release. The Concerned Igbo Ministers Commission, led by Rev. Tony Uzo Anthony and Apostle Tony Osuji, called out the governors for failing to put pressure on the government to free Kanu, despite widespread calls from the people of the region.
The letter, which was made available to news outlets, accused the governors of betraying the Igbo people’s common interest. It stated, “It is now evident that Mr. President and the South East governors took an oath not to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
The ministers referred to a statement made by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, who revealed that there was an agreement made with Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son, before the 2023 elections, promising Kanu’s release if Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the presidency. However, despite promises made during the campaign, particularly in Imo State, the ministers pointed out that no progress had been made regarding Kanu’s freedom after nearly two years of President Tinubu’s term.
The ministers further criticized the South East governors for not speaking out against Kanu’s continued detention during the President’s visits to the region. They accused the governors of contributing to the region’s insecurity by failing to demand Kanu’s release, claiming that his freedom could help resolve the insecurity issues.
They stated, “Sadly, no South East governor confronted Mr. President during his tour of the region about Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s infamous and illegal detention.”
In their message, the group also urged religious leaders to ask questions and take action regarding Kanu’s detention. They expressed frustration over the promises made by politicians and their failure to follow through, saying, “The utmost hypocrisy of Igbo politicians is to use the media to fool our people with frivolous promises.”
The letter ended with a call to action for the Igbo people, saying that the governors who have failed in their duties should not be re-elected if they continue to play politics with Kanu’s release, emphasizing that his continued detention was a “humiliation” to the Igbo Nation.
