Omoyele Sowore has alleged that certain members of the Igbo elite are complicit in the ongoing detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He contended that Kanu’s imprisonment is indicative of a broader issue concerning the Igbo community in Nigeria.
In a recent interview, Sowore maintained that Kanu’s situation is emblematic of the marginalization faced by the Igbo people since the end of the civil war. “Nigeria has an Igbo problem,” he remarked. “It’s akin to a father on his deathbed expressing, ‘I have issues with Igbo people; please carry on from here.’”
Sowore expressed his disappointment with President Bola Tinubu’s administration for not taking immediate action to release Kanu. “I anticipated that one of Tinubu’s first actions in office would be to free Nnamdi Kanu. The fact that the situation has deteriorated suggests there is a conspiracy at play,” he stated.
He further revealed that some members of the Igbo elite were involved in discussions regarding Kanu’s release, suggesting that they advised postponing any action until after the elections. “Now, it seems that external forces have intervened even more forcefully,” he added.
Nnamdi Kanu has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in Kenya and subsequent extradition to Nigeria in 2021. He currently faces a seven-count charge related to treasonable felony.
