The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has criticised political leaders in the South-East for failing to meet with President Bola Tinubu to secure the release of their son.
The IPOB leader has been in detention since June 29, 2021.
His recent bail application was declined by Justice Binta Nyako on Tuesday.
However, in a statement on Thursday on behalf of the family, Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, questioned why Igbo political leaders had not met with Tinubu to address Kanu’s situation nearly a year since the president assumed office.
The statement partly read, “How be it that nobody among Igbo political leaders has reached Tinubu to discuss Nnamdi Kanu’s release almost a year after he came to power?
“Is it not deliberate? Have they not been gaining access to the President concerning other issues? It’s a shame that Kanu is being punished for asking for the freedom of Ndigbo, and the leaders have abandoned him to die in DSS custody.”
He alleged that some people were benefiting from his continued incarceration, hence the apparent apathy on the part of the political elite to engage the President in his release.
Emmanuel added, “Why can’t they go for his release if they truly love the South East? Something is wrong somewhere. They are benefiting from his continued detention, and that’s why they are not making any serious moves to engage Mr President. Don’t forget that some people sponsored his abduction and extraordinary rendition.
“Why should he be abandoned for asking for the freedom of Biafra? He didn’t take up arms against the government, but he was tagged a terrorist. Yet the same government is busy releasing terrorists from detention.”
Emmanuel threatened to expose the beneficiaries of Kanu’s continued incarceration and the insecurity in the Southeast region.
He said, “If they fail to act, Ndigbo and Biafrans at large must hold them responsible. And it may get to a point where the masses may no longer be held back.
“Nobody dies with any secret. Very soon, all those behind Kanu’s continued detention will be exposed. Those benefiting from the insecurity in the South-East are the ones enjoying his continued stay in detention. But nothing lasts forever. One day, they will be out of power.”
Emmanuel also expressed sadness over the refusal of Justice Nyako to grant him bail.
The family wondered if the trial Judge had taken time to go through the certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment on the matter which held that the Federal High Court ought not to have revoked Kanu’s bail in the first place.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
