Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah,
has reiterated his long-held position that the continued detention of the Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, should be resolved
through a political process.
Speaking during a state-wide broadcast on Tuesday
following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All
Progressives Congress (APC), Mbah said his stance on Kanu’s incarceration
has remained consistent since he assumed office.
“It took barely a week after I assumed office that I
had a meeting with the President, and I was very specific when I came out to
address the press that I also raised the issue of Nnamdi Kanu with the
President,” the governor stated.
Mbah stressed that a political resolution
remains the most sustainable approach to the issue.
“I believe strongly that the Nnamdi Kanu problem is
going to be solved politically. With this now, I think it is also an
opportunity for the South-East to consolidate our position and make a very
strong case for this to be resolved politically,” he said.
The governor urged South-East stakeholders to
embrace the idea of a political resolution and work together to present a
unified position to the Federal Government.
“First of all, we need to accept the concept that this
is the right thing to do. Then, the details of implementation will be worked
out because there will certainly be details,” he added.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar
has also criticised the prolonged detention of the IPOB leader, describing it
as “an open sore on our nation’s conscience.”
Atiku called for Kanu’s immediate release,
insisting that his continued incarceration constitutes a violation of the
rule of law.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of
State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in Kenya and subsequent extradition
to Nigeria in June 2021.
His detention has been marked by legal controversies,
including multiple bail orders issued by various courts that have yet to
be implemented by prosecuting authorities.
The IPOB leader currently faces a seven-count
charge bordering on alleged terrorism-related offences.
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