The governors of the South East have come under fire for allegedly paying mere lip service to the mounting calls for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the prominent Igbo Nation activist who has been detained by federal authorities under court orders for the past three years.
Critics claim that the governors have betrayed the collective interests of the Igbo people by not exerting pressure on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to facilitate Kanu’s release, despite widespread public demand for his freedom.
These accusations were articulated in an open letter from a group of clergy known as the Concerned Igbo Ministers Commission, addressed directly to the South East governors. The letter was co-signed by Rev. Tony Uzo Anthony (President General/International Coordinator) and Apostle Tony Osuji (Secretary General).
Dated January 8, 2025, the letter stated, “It has become clear that both the President and the South East governors have sworn not to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
The letter referenced recent comments from Prince Emmanuel Kanu, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, who disclosed an alleged arrangement made prior to the 2023 general election involving Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son, and the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu concerning Kanu’s release contingent upon Tinubu winning the presidency.
“During his campaign in Imo State, the President promised that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu would be freed under his administration, yet nearly two years have passed without action,” the letter lamented.
The authors expressed disappointment that no South East governor challenged the President during his visits to the region regarding Kanu’s ongoing and controversial detention. They further asserted, “It is now apparent that our South East governors are contributing to the insecurity in the region. They should have advocated for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who represents a key solution to these security issues.”
The letter warned that President Tinubu, misled by the governors, risks damaging his reputation and political aspirations in the South East. It called for divine intervention to reveal the governors’ actions, suggesting that some may have gained from Kanu’s unlawful detention.
The group urged all religious leaders to start questioning the continued incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, asserting, “The ultimate hypocrisy of Igbo politicians lies in their media manipulation to deceive our people with empty promises regarding Kanu’s release.”
The letter concluded with a stark warning: “They have all failed Ndi Igbo and should not be re-elected if they persist in misleading us and politicizing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s situation. His ongoing detention is a profound humiliation to Ndi Igbo.”
