Group appeals to Buhari to release IPOB leader for peace in South East

The Association of South East Town Unions, on Tuesday, made a passionate appeal to President Buhari, to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kalu, from detention and save the region from destruction.

ASETU said it believed that releasing the IPOB leader would help to restore peace in the region.

The statement partly read: “ASETU, and indeed Igbos in general, are most grieved by the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, an action which has not helped the security situation in Igboland and Nigeria but rather introduced the monstrous and retrogressive ‘sit-at-home’ with the attendant massive deterioration of security situation and debilitation of the South-East economy.”

The group passionately appealed to President Buhari to “extend his milk of human kindness to Ndi Igbo in this most trying period and abate the continued loss of innocent souls and the destruction of the South-East economy by applying a political solution and using his prerogative of mercy of the Presidential Amnesty to release Mazi Nnamdi Kalu from detention.

“This will not be the first time Nigeria is compromising logic and legality to achieve peace, except there is more to it. It was done in the Niger Delta in the case of Asari Dokubo and Co: also, confirmed Boko Haram, killer terrorists and bandits, who have murdered several innocent soldiers, policemen, and thousands of other security agents and innocent civilians were said to have been pardoned, compensated with billions of naira and placed on salaries above level 15 civil servants; ironically but dangerously they were recruited and absorbed into the same Nigerian Army they swore to wipe out!” the group said.

The group added, “If releasing him (Kanu) will stop the killings and the ‘sit at homes’ as claimed, what do we lose by trying this option to save further lives and property. It is a costless benefit of doubt.

“We assure you, Mr. President, that releasing him will not worsen the security situation, rather it will bring better peace and eliminate or reduce drastically the killings. Our leadership is grassroot-based. We are on (the) ground. We feel the heartbeat of the people more.”