The South East Governors’ Forum has announced plans to visit President Bola Tinubu to discuss the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Following a meeting held in Enugu State on Tuesday, July 2, the governors made this resolution. The meeting included Governors Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Alex Otti (Abia), Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), and Peter Mbah (Enugu).
Governor Uzodinma, the Forum's Chairman, stated that a delegation comprising former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, and the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe, had visited the Forum in solidarity.
Uzodinma highlighted the outcomes of a security and economic summit held in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on September 28, 2023. He said the Forum had agreed to implement recommendations related to security and economic integration and planned actionable steps on these key issues.
“The forum received the delegation of former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCON, and His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe CFR, Obi of Onitsha, who came on a solidarity visit to the forum. The forum resolved to visit Mr. President to discuss pressing issues concerning the South East region. The forum also resolved to interface with the Federal Government to secure the release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu,” Uzodinma stated.
The Forum also extended condolences to the governments and people of Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo States, South East Nigeria, and the family of Chief Ogbonnaya Onu on the passing of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.
Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested in July 2015 and charged with treason, fled the country in 2017 after being granted bail. He was rearrested in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria in 2021, where he has since been detained by the Department of State Services.
