The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to temper justice with mercy and release the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
Kalu appealed while addressing the press after the inaugural meeting of the House of Representatives committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC) at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The Deputy Speaker commended Mr President for his continuous and tremendous support and commitment towards peace, development, and stability in the South-East region.
He noted that the president, since assuming office, has in various ways proven his love for the South-Easterners through his speedy assent to the South East Development Commission Bill, which failed in previous assemblies.
He said, “We are begging; you can’t coerce the President; he’s the Commander in Chief. All we are saying is use a political approach, not the legal approach. We are appealing to him to temper justice with mercy and release Nnamdi Kanu to Southeast people. It will ensure more security for our people and spring up development that this SEDC is going to bring.”
Suggesting the adoption of a political approach rather than a legal one for the release of Kanu, the Deputy Speaker said that the people of the region will be eternally grateful to the President if that becomes a reality.
Expressing optimism that the president will heed their appeal, the deputy speaker noted that when Kanu is released, insecurity in the region will be reduced and as well spring up development that this SEDC is going to bring.
He said, “Only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was able to put his feet down to say that the South East remains parts and parcel of Nigeria. It failed in previous assemblies but when it got to him, he assented to it. We are very happy because we know that certain areas of our problems in the region will be prioritised such as agriculture, energy, power, infrastructure, technology we are very innovative people.
“All we need is the support of government to project the innovative mindedness of the young folks in that region to benefit the entire federation. The next one is the creative industry, how do we look at that, sports, entertainment, to take it from where it is to where it ought to be. In agriculture the whole nine yards, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda on Food Security, that’s what we are looking at. What’s happening with these talents, can’t we have something like silicon valley in the east? We can call it eastern valley, a hub where you creative minds will come together.
“These are areas we are looking at, with a lot of technology in place, development will spring up. We are thankful to Mr President for doing this for the South-East; you know insecurity is a major concern in the area. You can’t have development in midst of insecurity. That’s why we started what we call peace in South-East project supported by the parliament. But in doing so we noticed that the insecurity there will be reduced if Nnamdi Kanu is released. We want Nnamdi Kanu to be released because we know it will give our people more security.
“Those who are using him as an excuse to perpetrate all these criminal actions around our area will have no other reason to be on the street. Then the police and security agencies will catch anyone who claims Nnamdi Kanu is the reason for causing harm to the people of South-East.
