Nnamdi Kanu’s detention may have negative impact in 2023 election

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

As Nigeria approaches the 2023 general elections, the continued imprisonment of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, may have an impact on the polls.

Kanu’s continued incarceration may cause issues that affect voter turnout in the Southeast.

Kanu has been detained since June 2021, when he was apprehended in Kenya and subjected to extraordinary rendition.

When he returned to Nigeria, he was detained at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja and charged with terrorism-related offenses.

However, an Appeal Court in Abuja last week discharged and acquitted the IPOB leader of terrorism charges.

Despite the ruling, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has indicated that the IPOB leader will remain imprisoned.

Malami explained that Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted, and that the IPOB would face new charges.

Meanwhile, IPOB has previously threatened not to hold elections in the Southeast if Kanu is not released and Biafra is not realized.

Later, the group soft pedaled, emphasizing that it has nothing to do with the general election in 2023.

Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, expressed concern about his continued detention and predicted that youths in the Southeast would revolt against the conduct of elections in 2023.

To appease the people of the Southeast, Isiguzoro urged the Federal Government to pardon Kanu.

He assured President Muhammadu Buhari that prominent leaders in the Southeast are willing to engage in dialogue with the Federal Government to ensure that Kanu and IPOB members end the Biafra agitation.

“There is this fear that Nnamdi Kanu’s release may jeopardize the 2023 elections, and there is also this fear that if he is not released, it may affect the 2023 elections,” Isiguzoro says.

“I must state unequivocally that those who wear the shoes are aware of where it pinches them. The people of the Southeast have been enveloped with insecurity challenges for over one year now, which is associated with Kanu’s incarceration.

“The people of the Southeast are begging the Federal Government to consider the cheap option of cutting down insecurity in the Southeast and they should desist from appealing the Appeal Court judgment.

“The Federal Government should consider the option of dialogue; the people of the Southeast are ready to dialogue with the Federal Government, and Kanu should be included in that dialogue.” Igbo leaders like Emeka Anyioku, Mbalulike Amaechi, and other first-class Igbo people are ready to tell Kanu that he is wrong, but dialogue is required to ensure that the Southeast’s collapsing economy, which is associated with ghost Mondays, ends. This is what the government should consider; rather than spending billions of dollars to combat insecurity, they should use dialogue to resolve the Southeast’s problem.

“In terms of elections, there is a chance that the youths will revolt and demand that there be no elections if Kanu is not released.” And we all know what happens if there is no election in the Southeast.

“The Federal Government must reach a correct and solid agreement with Igbo leaders on welfare packages for Kanu and other pro-Biafra group members who are imprisoned.” If the Federal Government is able to rehabilitate insurgents in the North and reintegrate them into society, it should engage in dialogue with IPOB members and offer them welfare packages. This would distract them from Biafra.

“The Federal Government should pursue the least expensive method of resolving this insecurity issue, which is dialogue.” Instead of us being on the receiving end of dialogue, the Federal Government should be the one demonstrating it.

“Buhari has stated that he wishes to hand over a more secure and united Nigeria; however, how would you hand over a secure country without appeasing the people of the Southeast?” We are requesting that he give them one more chance. He and his men should be granted amnesty so that the election can be held peacefully.

“The reason Ohanaeze has been calling for Kanu’s release is not because we are IPOB members, but because the peace we had enjoyed in the last seven years when insecurity ravaged the North abruptly ended.” Dialogue can put an end to this artificial insecurity challenge. So, as the nation’s father, we implore Buhari to consider Kanu for pardon and to engage in dialogue with Ndigbo for a peaceful election in 2023.”