Northern Leaders Reveals Reasons Tinubu Should Not Release Nnamdi Kanu

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has informed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to disregard pleadings of  Igbo leaders for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

According to a statement on Saturday issued by Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, CNG Spokesperson, told President Tinubu to remain resolute in seeing through Kanu’s prosecution along with his sponsors, backers and collaborators for the heinous crimes against the Nigerian state and innocent Nigerian citizens, so as not to set the wrong precedent of regional leaders interfering with the course of justice.

The CNG reminded Mr.President that by acceding to the demands for Kanu’s release, his government would be exposed to questions as to the status of the innocent Nigerian citizens of other regions killed, dispossessed and displaced as a result of Kanu’s incitement.

The Group rather called on the Federal Government to intensify ongoing action to disband all militias and armed groups in the South East and other parts of Nigeria, by resorting to the use of force if needs be, to ensure that no group has the capacity to challenge the state in its prerogative to maintain law and order, and protect citizens’ lives and properties.

According to Suleiman, “The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has taken stock of events unfolding in Nigeria, noting especially, the unrelenting disturbances created by certain interest groups in the South-East, ignited and incessantly fanned and executed through the force of arms and terrorist tactics by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and co-authors of mindless violence and separatism.

“CNG has carefully watched and studied these events and actions being perpetrated against the Nigerian state, against Nigerians collectively, and against northerners in particular, with considerable restraint and maturity.“Of late however, with the brutal enforcement of a week-long illegal stay-at-home order that mostly affects other Nigerians living as minorities in Southeastern communities, and the renewed resolve by Igbo leaders and elders to secure the unconditional release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, matters have reached a point whereby silence has become complicity and inaction no longer an option.

“The Igbo’s nefarious objective manifested when they hijacked the lear and legitimate #EndSARS protests, incited the violence and destruction that followed in its wake, resulting in mass killings of security personnel, unprovoked evictions, attacks and killings of people of other regions particularly the North, and the near breakdown of law and order in the South East and mostly Lagos in the South West.“In the South-East and parts of South-South, several police personnel and innocent citizens were massacred, prisons vandalised and inmates set free.

“Not less than 22 policemen, seven soldiers and 59 innocent civilians were killed in October 2020 according to the toll announced by the then President Muhammadu Buhari during an emergency meeting with former Nigerian leaders.

“According to the Inspector General of Police at that time, 205 critical national security assets, corporate facilities and private property were attacked, burnt or vandalised with 10 firearms including eight AK 47 rifles stolen.

“In Lagos coordinated attacks, IPOB hoodlums in Lagos State incited by Kanu started their activities by attacking peaceful #EndSARS protesters and innocent citizens and destroying assets resulting in:

“Burning of sets belonging to the current President, Tinubu specifically mentioned by Kanu including the headquarters of be Television Continental (TVC) , while the office of The Nation newspaper was torched.”