Concerns Grow Over Igbo Leaders’ Silence On Nnamdi Kanu At Tinubu’s Town Hall Meeting

Igbo leaders and stakeholders reportedly failed to raise the issue of releasing Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), during a recent town hall meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Enugu.

This outcome has disappointed many Igbo, who had hoped the meeting would be an opportunity to push for Kanu’s release. His continued detention since 2021 is widely believed to be a key factor in the region’s insecurity and unrest.

Although some Igbo leaders have visited Kanu in custody or individually appealed to the President to order his release, their collective silence at the gathering has raised concerns. Newly-elected President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu, recently urged Tinubu to release Kanu to address the region’s insecurity, and the South-East Governors Forum had earlier resolved to plead with the President on the matter. However, neither of these efforts surfaced at the event.

The town hall meeting, held during President Tinubu’s one-day working visit to Enugu to commission projects by Governor Peter Mbah, was attended by top Igbo leaders, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Minister of Works Dave Umahi, and traditional rulers such as the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe.

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Speakers at the event focused on infrastructure and economic issues. Former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, commended the Tinubu administration for completing the Port Harcourt-Aba section of the Eastern rail line and urged the government to prioritise the completion of the remaining portions. Chris Ugoh called for the development of the Anambra River Basin to enhance industrial and energy benefits for the region and beyond.

National Commissioner for the Police Service Commission, Onyemuche Nnamani, advocated modern security strategies, including surveillance technology, while urging the government to phase out roadblocks and checkpoints, which he described as inefficient and dangerous.

The omission of discussions on Kanu’s detention and its implications has left many questioning the commitment of South-East leaders to resolving the core issues affecting the region.