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The prolonged detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has assumed political dimensions, warns Ambassador Kalu Ofon Emmanuel, a respected human rights crusader.
As the Federal Government continues to ignore court orders to free Kanu, Dr. Emmanuel, President of the Lagos State Chapter of the International Human Rights Protection Service, is convinced that a political accord with Southeast leaders is the only remaining option for his release.
The human rights promoter, who spoke to Sunday Independent at the weekend, stated: “The recent call by Elder statesman Edwin Clark, who added his voice to the renewed calls for the release of IPOB Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is a good development.
“However, such calls alone will not accelerate action for the release of the IPOB Leader by President Bola Tinubu.
“I believe President Tinubu may like to release Nnamdi Kanu. But, it has to be in consonance with the lgbo elites and Southeast Governors.
“His continual detention has become more political than the common man on the street could comprehend. The day the lgbo elites and Southeast Governors take a decisive action that their son should be released, definitely, the solution will not be far.
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“People are being enriched by his detention. Each time he goes to court, the security agents smile to banks.
“Can anyone imagine the huge amount of money that runs into hundreds of millions of Naira the Federal Government spends on security, just to take him to the courts?
“The whole thing has become political. If Nnamdi Kanu had come from certain regions, it would have been absolutely impossible for him to be remanded in prison for so long.
“Today, Sunday lgboho who committed a punishable crime to be remanded in prison is walking freely on the streets. The man who committed no crime, but was leading a peaceful agitation, is languishing in detention.
“That is absolutely disgusting, inhuman, and a violation of his fundamental human rights. Why are they releasing terrorists from the North and calling it ‘pardon’?
He pointed out that individuals who had perpetrated grave crimes and horrors were being set free, whereas Nnamdi Kanu was being subjected to prolonged detention, which he considered a clear case of unequal treatment.
