Governors from the South-East declared on Tuesday that they will work with the federal government to secure Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release.

This was included in the statement released following the Forum’s meeting in Enugu.

Governors Hope Uzodinma, Dr. Alex Otti, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru of Imo, Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi states, as well as the host, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, were among the other stakeholders present at the meeting.

The action was taken in response to Kanu, the head of IPOB, the Indigenous People of Biafra, expressing his desire to persuade the Nigerian government to accept an out-of-court settlement.

On June 19, 2024, Kanu, who is on trial for offences including terrorism, said to the Federal High Court in Abuja that he intended to pursue peace with the federal government through the representation of his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor.

Ejimakor had reported to the court that he had spoken with Federal Government attorney Adegboyega Awomolo about the out-of-court settlement.

Awomolo, however, informed the court that he had no instruction from his client to begin any negotiations with the defendant said: “I told him to go to the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, who has the power. If he is interested in negotiating he should go there, his office is just here.”

Justice Binta Nyako noted that the court has no issue if the parties wish to discuss negotiation, urging Kanu to approach the AGF who is the appropriate person to negotiate with.

Similarly, President Bola Tinubu has been urged to invoke section 174 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended) and section 107(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, in order to secure Kanu’s release by approximately fifty members of the House of Representatives representing various regions of Nigeria and political parties known as concerned federal lawmakers for Peace and Security in the South East.

The lawmakers urged President Tinubu to launch a presidential peace initiative to deal with all of the problems and difficulties afflicting Nigeria’s southeast. These were included in a three-page letter to Mr. President, dated June 19, 2024, and signed by the parliamentarians.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential contender, has also supported calls for Kanu’s release, noting that it would foster peace.

Regarding Kanu’s prolonged detention, Obi expressed his opinions as follows: “I don’t see any reason for his continued detention, especially as the courts have granted him bail. Government must obey the court.

“Rule of law is an intricate asset that we must cherish and live with. I use this opportunity to plead with the government to ensure that all those who are in similar conditions are released and discussed with. We are in a democracy and we should not be doing things that are arbitrary and not within the law.”

Kanu should sign bond of peace – Lawyer, Idam

The IPOB leader’s decision to pursue an out-of-court settlement with the Nigerian government was deemed courageous by activist lawyer Madubuachi Idam.

Idam emphasised that by taking this action, Kanu would have the chance to present his requests at the negotiating table and air his grievances to the Nigerian government.

The constitutional lawyer said in an interview with ZINGTIE: “Asking for an out-of-court settlement as the one being asked by Nnamdi Kanu is not an act of cowardice neither is it a sign of weakness.

“Kanu is not at war with the Nigerian state, he has no problem with the Nigerian state. Kanu is agitating to be free from Nigeria. It should not be misconstrued that he’s afraid of the Nigerian state.

“Kanu opting for out-of-court settlement is the right thing to do, it’s an opportunity to inform the state and explain his agitation.

“It’s an opportunity to vent his grievance and table his demands before the state if it will be met on a negotiation table without the need for him to continue the agitation.

“For me, it’s the right step he has taken. It’s well thought and prudent for him to have toed that line and I encourage the Nigerian state to accept that application.

“Kanu is a citizen as far as Nigeria has not broken up, and when a citizen who controls a lot of people is making a demand, he must be listened to. His continued detention is not in the interest of anybody.

“Having said that, the current Attorney General of the Federation is a thorough lawyer who understands what it means to hold the state together. He understands that negotiations with the defendant in accordance with the Federal High Court rules are encouraged by law.”

The constitutional attorney pointed out that Kanu ought to be forced to sign a bond stipulating that, in exchange for his freedom, he would preach peace.

He emphasised that the activist for Biafra should not be viewed as a state enemy.

The constitutional lawyer pointed out that Kanu ought to be made to sign a bond stipulating that, in exchange for his freedom, he would preach peace.

He emphasised that the activist for Biafra should not be viewed as a state enemy.

Idam added: “Kanu’s continued detention serves no purpose, it’s using a sledgehammer to kill an ant, it’s needless and unwarranted.

“If Kanu was tried by the Nigerian government the first time he was arrested in 2017, this tension would have been averted. The state popularized Kanu’s issue, he’s only asking to be free, let my people go.

“He should not be misconstrued as an enemy of the state. Kanu’s release will douse the criminal activities in the Southeast. What will they be agitating?

“Kanu should be encouraged to sign a bond that he will preach peace if released and I will encourage the state to toll the line. He had said severally that people should stop killings in the Southeast, he had even preached it in the open court that those killing are enemies of the Southeast.

“If his agitation has nothing to do with killing people and insecurity, so why should anybody be afraid that if he’s released, insecurity will continue?

“Kanu has said it by himself and I can tell you that if Kanu is released today, he will stand by his words and that will be more beneficial than having him in detention.”

Ohanaeze’s stance on out-of-court settlement

In addition to emphasising that a political solution is essential, Ohanaeze National Publicity Secretary Alex Ogbonnia argued that Kanu’s release would reduce insecurity in the Southeast.

Ogbonia pointed out that the Biafra agitation went beyond Kanu and was a fundamental issue.

“The issue of Nnamdi Kanu demands a political solution. The kinetic approach in the Southeast that has created unnecessary tension is not the solution to the problem.

“The Nigerian government should look into the cause because Kanu represents what’s happening in the Southeast of Nigeria. For example, the marginalization of the Southeasterners in the 2023 elections where there was so much shenanigan.

“Nnamdi Kanu represents all these agitations in the Southeast, so what he’s saying is that it’s either you treat us equitably in all fairness or you allow us to go; and it’s a simple message.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is saying political solution that requires non-kinetic approach, there are some kind of statement from the government that will lead to celebration galore in the Southeast.

“Releasing Kanu will surely quell the insecurity in the Southeast and the Monday sit-at-home will stop. The agitation for Biafra is no longer about Kanu, it’s very fundamental; the agitation is a reaction to stimulus,” he told ZINGTIE.

Court should be allowed to decide Kanu’s fate – Arewa Youths

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) holds a different opinion.

Based on solid evidence, the group believes that Kanu’s fate should be decided by the court, not by the Nigerian government.

Yerima Shettima, National President of AYCF, stated that if the court finds the IPOB leader guilty, he should be held accountable for his actions or released if he is shown to be innocent.

Shettima stated in an interview with ZINGTIE: “It’s within the government’s confines to look at it, if they want to settle out-of-court or they want the court to continue.

“For me, I would have been comfortable if the court decided his fate at the end of the day based on what is before the court, they should do the needful.

“Kanu should face the music if he’s found wanting or be allowed to go if proven innocent. His punishment should serve as a deterrent to those who think that they can disobey the law and take impunity as a right either deliberately or ignorantly.

“However, if the government decides to settle out-of-court then so be it but at least, we all know now that nobody can do anything and get away with it.”

Nigeria should amend constitution to make room for self-determination

Additionally, Shettima pushed the Nigerian government to change the nation’s constitution to permit self-determination.

The National President of the AYCF believes that people ought to have the freedom to choose whether or not to become Biafra or stay Nigerian.

“The proposed settlement is within the law and it’s for the government to deem it fit, necessary if that is what they want.

“Some of us are products of struggles and I can tell you that you can agitate for whatever you want from religion to tribe but when it becomes critical that somebody has to lose his life, that is no longer an agitation; it’s something else. And this has been our worry and fear.

“The right to self-determination is guaranteed under international law and Nigeria is a signatory to that agreement, unfortunately, we signed a charter but locally our constitution does not reflect it, self-determination is alien to our constitution.

“At the same time, a referendum is not in our constitution. These are areas I feel if the government is sincere we should be able to amend the laws to reflect these two key issues.

“If you sign an agreement that you believe in self-determination by the international standard, locally it should reflect it and that is why today we have an issue where there is no way of exit in the country.

“Somebody can’t wake up and say we should divide corporately, it’s not reflected in our constitution. They should amend the constitution so that you can’t force people to stay with you, there should be an exit through referendum,” he stated.

Kanu, Ekpa have no control over Biafra agitation, criminals have taken over struggle

Shettima further noted that the agitation has gotten out of control for both Kanu and Simon Ekpa, the self-declared prime minister of Biafra.

“They say it’s easier to destroy than to build; when they started this agitation, they never envisaged that they would be consumed.

“Even if you release Kanu and bring Ekpa to beg for pardon, they can’t control this madness anymore because criminals have cashed into it in the name of agitation.

“How does agitation become kidnapping, looting, robbery, killing innocent people? It’s not done anywhere.

“This is a criminal act and they should be dealt with as criminals. Whether you release Kanu or not, he has no control because if he did, with all he has been saying, killing would have subsided.

“Can you say in all honesty that these criminals in the Southeast are listening to what he’s saying? They are not.

“They engage in all sorts of criminality in the name of Biafra struggle, sit-at-home and all sorts.

“I don’t think Kanu will be safe if released today, going by what we are seeing. It has become a criminal activity and all of us must come out to condemn this act,” Shettima cautioned.

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