Ojukwu urges south-east to pursue peaceful dialogue for Nnamdi Kanu’s release
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, has appealed to residents of the South-East to adopt dialogue and peaceful engagement in addressing the imprisonment of Nnamdi Kanu. She made the call on Wednesday at the 14th Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Day held at the Ojukwu Memorial Library in Owerri, Imo State.
Ojukwu said that although Kanu had been sentenced by a court of first instance, there was still hope for his release through constructive, non-violent efforts. She noted that dialogue with key political leaders could facilitate his freedom from the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
The annual memorial event, instituted by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, founder of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), draws participants from across the five South-East states and beyond.
During her remarks, Ojukwu called for a minute of silence in honour of the late BBC journalist, Mr Frederick Forsyth, who covered the events of the Biafra–Nigeria civil war. She urged Igbo residents not to resort to violence over Kanu’s imprisonment, advising them instead to engage lawmakers, governors and President Bola Tinubu to seek a peaceful resolution.
She also encouraged unity and collective planning ahead of the Christmas season, stressing that constructive dialogue remained the most effective path.
Ojukwu expressed concern over the declining use of the Igbo language among children and urged parents to prioritise teaching their mother tongue. She further lamented rising insecurity in the region, describing it as unprecedented even during the civil war era.
Calling for patience among youths, she emphasised that peace and dialogue remained critical for progress.
Chairman of the occasion, Ugwunna Ajaelu, also appealed for restraint, urging South-East residents to embrace diplomatic approaches to ensure Kanu’s release “in no distant time.”
