By Uche Mbah
The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, VON, Osita Okechukwu, has called on President Muhammdu Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
Kanu has been under custody since he was extradicted from Kenyan to Nigeria.
Last week, a nonagenarian former Minister, Mbazulike Amaechi, led some Igbo leaders of thought to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to appeal for Kanu’s unconditional release from President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Buhari told them it was a difficult request to make, but said he would consider it, a statement hailed by Ohaneze ndi Igbo.
Okechukwu is a Chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Sunday, Okechukwu said the Federal government should honor Amaechi’s request. To balance the issue, Amaechi appealed to IPOB to support the actualisation of Igbo Presidency come 2023.
“I join Ohaneze Ndigbo, eminent constitutional lawyer and Chairman, Igbo Leaders of Thought, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, and people of goodwill nationwide in commending President Muhammadu Buhari for accepting to consider the release of the held leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
“I also appeal to IPOB to support Nigeria President of Igbo extraction 2023 project. Methinks IPOB’s support will kill two birds with one stone,” Okechukwu said.
“Mr President said during the visit, ‘You’ve made an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years since I became president, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary. I said that the best thing was to subject him to the system. Let him make his case in court, instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from the outside. I feel it’s even a favour to give him that opportunity'”
Okechukwu said IPOB’s support for Nigerian president of Igbo extraction 2023 project is not precondition for the release of Kanu.
“Capital no, it is not a precondition,” he said in answer to a question, “all I am saying is that Mr President and a host of other Nigerians are silently in support of Nigeria President of Igbo extraction 2023 project, but are wary and reticent of IPOB stance.
“Therefore, in my little opinion, IPOB support of our project will kill two birds with one stone,” Okechukwu said.
He said that the release of Kanu will restore economic activities in South East and IPOB support will increase support for Nigerian President of Igbo extraction come 2023.
“My understanding of IPOB agitation is to end Igbo marginalisation”, he said.
