Abia Residents Urge Tinubu to Release Nnamdi Kanu as October 1 Gift
Abia residents urge President Tinubu to release IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu as an October 1 gift, saying it would end insecurity, restore peace, and boost economic activity in the Southeast.
As Nigeria marks another Independence Day, indigenes and residents of Abia State have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), describing it as the best October 1st gift to the Southeast.
The appeal was made on Saturday in Umuahia, with residents stressing that Kanu’s release would restore confidence in the region and end the prolonged trial that has continued to generate tension.
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Godson Chike, a resident of Aba, lamented that the nostalgia of October 1 celebrations in the Southeast had been eroded by Kanu’s incarceration. He added that the persistent sit-at-home orders linked to his detention had caused enormous economic losses, affecting businesses and daily life in the region.
Chike argued that Kanu’s release would help curb insecurity in the Southeast, noting that some criminal elements were exploiting his detention as an excuse to perpetrate violence. He further commended President Tinubu for his efforts in stabilizing parts of the economy but urged him to also focus on the Southeast by completing ongoing and abandoned federal projects, particularly critical road infrastructure.
According to him, prioritizing such issues would not only bring peace and development to the Southeast but also secure President Tinubu a positive legacy in the eyes of history.
The appeal reflects growing pressure from the Southeast for a political solution to Kanu’s case, which has remained a subject of national debate since his arrest and trial.
