64th Independence Celebration: Ohanaeze seeks pardon for Nnamdi Kanu

As Nigeria marks the 64th anniversary of its independence, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to use the occasion to grant a political pardon to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The Vice-President Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, made the appeal in an interview with journalists in Awka on Tuesday, during a ceremony to commemorate the day.

Kanu has been incarcerated at the DSS custody in Abuja since his extradition from Kenya in 2021.

Okeke-Ogene insisted that his release would restore peace, enable the perpetrators of violence in the South-East to be identified and totally put an end to the disturbing sit-at-home practice in the region.

He said, “Our major demand in this year’s Independence Day celebration is for the President to use the joy attached to the day to grant a political pardon to one of our sons and the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, from the DSS detention.

“Ohanaeze believes in Nigeria’s democracy and we also strongly believe that the release of Nnamdi Kanu will restore total peace and unity for all Nigerians residing in Igbo land.

“We also called on the South-East governors to improve the security architecture and welfare of the people of the region.”

Okeke-Ogene, while urging Tinubu to urgently do the needful to put smiles on the faces of millions of Nigerians amidst insecurity, hunger and other socio-economic challenges, lamented that the country is still developing at a snail speed.