Former running mate to Atiku Abubakar in 2007, Senator Ben Obi, has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will heed the Southeast’s plea for the release of Nnamdi Kanu to help resolve the region’s insecurity.
He said this while speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday about the joint efforts of the South eastern governors to dialogue with the federal government on the release of Nnamdi Kanu
The Chairman of the governing council of the American University of Nigeria in Yola, stated, “I have a good relationship with President Tinubu, and I think he listens. I do not see why, if all these great Nigerians have come together calling upon him to let Nnamdi Kanu off the hook, he will not listen to them.
“Various bodies have spoken in favour of Nnamdi Kanu’s release, and I do believe that the best interest of every government is to secure peace and tranquillity where possible. If there’s anyone who can contribute to peace and tranquillity in any region, our duty is to encourage them to play that role,” Obi stated.
He further elaborated on the collective stance of South eastern governors, highlighting their recent deliberations on Kanu’s case. “I’m happy that the governors of the Southeast regions have come together, deliberated on the issue of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and agreed to work hand in glove in meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resolve the issue.”
The Senator highlighted the significance of the legal proceedings in determining Nnamdi Kanu’s status, asserting, “The courts have set Nnamdi Kanu free. If he’s a political prisoner or a criminal, then it’s the duty of the court to say so loud and clear. The Court of Appeal, in its wisdom, has said to Nnamdi Kanu to go home and sin no more, if he had sinned. Everybody has spoken that he should be free so there can be some peace in that region.”
Emphasising the widespread consensus on the matter, Obi added, “When a child is crying and pointing in one direction, it’s either the father or mother is in that direction.”
He added, “All of us are saying the same thing, which is to let Nnamdi Kanu be free. I don’t think we can all be stupid at the same time, so I want to join hands with the governors of the Southeast forum to plead with President Tinubu to please do the needful.”
Expressing his optimism for resolving the issue, the Senator stated, “By addressing the core problem and recognising the urgency in ending the state of insecurity in the Southeast, we can find an amicable resolution. This approach benefits everyone involved, creating a win-win situation for all parties.”
Obi also mentioned Kanu’s willingness to comply with conditions for his release. “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has said he’s willing to abide by whatever rules and regulations are given to him for his release. I’m also sure that the governors of the Southeast, who are working with the Ohaneze, will be prepared to go into some undertaking regarding his situation,” he said.
He underscored the unified call for Nnamdi Kanu’s release as a step towards enhancing security in the Southeast. He acknowledged that while Kanu’s release may not be a complete solution, it is a significant move towards peace.
“When everybody is saying let Nnamdi Kanu be released so there can be a decrease in the level of insecurity in the Southeast, they cannot all be wrong. It’s not that he will 100 percent solve the state of insecurity, but he will contribute immensely to resolving it,” he stated.
On the potential for Kanu’s release to reignite secessionist sentiments, Obi remarked, “Nnamdi Kanu is human. He has gone through these years of incarceration, and I’m sure it’s a lesson.”
Stressing the necessity of a unified approach to tackle the ongoing insecurity in the Southeast, Obi emphasised, “What is important is we need to address the state of insecurity in the Southeast, and for that, we all have to be on the same page.”
Nancy Mbamalu
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