A political pressure group, the Igbo Union, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, held in Department of State Services (DSS) custody for more than three years.

Prince Elias Odoemena, President of the Igbo Union, who made the call in a press statement on Tuesday, said the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by President Tinubu would position him (Tinubu) as a president who listens to the cry of people and who obeys court order.

He said, It’s sad and discouraging that Kanu remains in DSS custody even though the court of competent jurisdiction granted him bail a long time ago.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's main focus has been speaking out against the marginalisation of the Igbo people by past Nigerian governments, but rather than tackling the reasons for Nnamdi Kanu's protests, the previous government tried to shut him down. It’s unfortunate that instead of doing the needful and reducing the rate of hatred among the Igbos, the former President Buhari's government thought that suppressing Nnamdi Kanu’s cry would make him stop the cry.

The continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu undermines the image of the Nigerian government before the international community as a nation that has little or no regard for court orders.

Prince Odoemena appreciated an elder statesman, Pa Edwin Clark, and many others who have advocated for the release of Nnamdi Kalu.

Odoemena also informed President Tinubu that Nnamdi Kanu is the son of the president and may be useful to his government in the future.