A former lawmaker who represented Oshodi-Isolo from 2015 to 2023 in the Lagos Assembly, Jude Idimogu, has urged President Bola Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Recall that Kanu, the leader of the self-determination movement, was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2021, brought to Nigeria, and has since been in custody facing trial.
Speaking during an interview with NAN in Lagos, Jude revealed that freeing the IPOB leader would help the APC to secure votes in the South-East as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
According to him, well-meaning Nigerians, including Igbo leaders and South-East governors, should come together to speak with one voice and appeal to the President to grant Kanu a pardon.
He stated that a pardon of such magnitude will go a long way towards aiding the party’s fortune in South-East ahead of the forthcoming elections.
“It will add to our votes in the South-East. If the President can look at this issue, the South-East will never forget him but forever be grateful.
I want to plead with our President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to kindly see the need to use political means to grant Nnamdi Kanu clemency.
I want to appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians, not just those from Igbo extraction, to help plead with Mr President to use his good office to release Nnamdi Kanu.
If this is done, I believe the insecurity situation and tension in the South- East will reduce if not completely curbed and eradicated,” he said.
He further noted that several miscreants have formed the habit of using Kanu’s name to commit crimes and all kinds of atrocities across the region.
Jude concluded by saying that the release of Kanu will benefit the South-East region and Nigeria at large.
“Mr President, kindly look at the South-East case and bring back businesses and trading long stagnated in the region because of insecurity.
An average Igbo man is a trader. We cannot overlook this situation and the contributions of these traders in the South-East to the economy.
South-East used to be home to a lot of people before now, it just suddenly changed to be dens of insecurity and other vices. This can be arrested with Kanu’s release.
Mr President, we know you to be a father with a compassionate heart, please, help us in the South-East, grant Kanu freedom to stabilise our region,” he added.
