Insecurity: South East Traditional Rulers Meet Iwuanyanwu, Call On Tinubu To Release Nnamdi Kanu

By Emma Nwokonna On Oct 20, 2023

South East Traditional rulers have called on President Bola Tinubu to release the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in order to curb insecurity in the region.

The Royal Fathers under the auspices of the Supreme Council of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, South East Chapter made this call last week when they paid a courtesy visit to the President General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu at his office in Owerri, they lamented that the continuous detention of Kanu has escalated insecurity in the southeast which has affected the regions economy in several ways and has chased away foreign and local investors.

The chairman of Supreme Council of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, South East chapter Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu lamented that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has suffered so much in detention and urged the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President to work harder and if possible move for a political solution to enable a quick release of the IPOB leader.

He applauded Chief Iwuanyanwu for his visionary and purposeful leadership since he assumed office, the royal fathers reminded him that by virtue of his office as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide he is the leader of the region and his opinion should be respected.

They commended Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State for the massive infrastructural development of the state and his relentless efforts in the battle against insecurity, the Royal fathers enjoined Imolites to massively vote for him in the upcoming Governorship election.

In his response, the leader of the apex socio-cultural organization Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said the organization has advanced plans to meet with, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to canvass for the urgent need for the Federal Government to grant Mazi Nnamdi Kanu freedom, he expressed gratitude for the visit and thanked the Royal fathers for their patriotism, he however expressed regret that other ethnic groups in Nigeria have sold the dummy of perceived secession of the Igbo ethnic group to the Federal Government, thus creating undue fear and suspicion of every intention of the group before the Federal Government.

Chief Iwuanyanwu stated that statistics have shown that Igbos are the real critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project as they own over 60% of the investments across the country while their investments and properties are spread all over the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, unlike other ethnic groups whose investments are sited just within their region.

In his words “your request and solidarity visit have reinvigorated my leaderships intention to see the President on issues concerning the Igbos, more especially the need to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. whose continued detention is escalating insecurity in South East”

” Let us see any person or group that will be instigating insecurity or crisis in Igboland using his name when he is eventually released?

“Some people and groups are illegally feasting on his popularity and detention just to cause unnecessary trouble and problems in the entire South East and for their own selfish interest”

“There must be peace and stability in Igboland and I believe the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will definitely restore sanity and unravel a lot for the benefit of the nation”

Chief Iwuanyanwu further informed that since his emergence as the President of Ohaneze, he has instituted the organization in all the continents of the world including America, Europe, Asia, and South Africa noting that over 6,000 000 Igbos are living in diaspora.

Earlier, the Chief Host of the delegation, HRH Eze Dr. Oliver Ohanwe, the traditional ruler of Isiama ancient kingdom in Isiala-Mbano LGA of Imo State said the essence of the visit is to form a partnership with the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo in the execution of their mission and vision which he insists must be for the overall interests of the Igbo race.

Ohanwe eulogized Chief Iwuanyanwu, describing him as a 5 Star General while commending him also for being a stabilizing factor among the South East Governor’s and other critical stakeholders and leaders of the region.

He canvassed his organization’s foremost desire of advocating for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a strategic means of arresting insecurity in the region and the need to have a harmonious cultural identity among the ethnic nationalities.

The foremost Royal Father further disclosed their plan to meet with President Tinubu and some eminent Nigerians concerning the continual marginalization of the Igbos and the need to readdress the injustices especially as it bothers on the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu despite the courts ordering for his release and commended the South East Governors for their patriotic desires to revamp the region’s socioeconomic activities as well as their untiring efforts in repositioning the zone for sustainable development.

In his own speech, HRM Eze Dr. Douglas Okwara, the Okwarachukwu IV of Umuna ancient kingdom made a case for the promotion of Igbo culture and tradition and pleaded with Chief Iwuanyanwu to carry the Supreme Council of Nigeria Traditional Rulers and traditional institutions along in his leadership agenda in order to achieve an inclusive leadership and sustainable progress of the region.

Royal Fathers present include the Leader of the Supreme Council of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, South East Chapter HRK Eze Iheanyichukwu Nwokenna, The Oba of Ekeoba Kingdom and leader of the Abia chapter of Supreme Council of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze A.I. Ezeigbo- Ochima, HRM Eze G.N . Asomugha, HRH Eze G.N. Ejiogu (Eze Kara) and HRH Eze E.L. Ukaegbu (KSC)