S’East monarch to FG: Release Nnamdi Kanu or return him to Kenya

Kanu

A traditional ruler from the South-East on Tuesday urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, or return him to Kenya, where he was arrested, warning that his continued detention was fuelling agitation among youths in the region.

The monarch, Dr Lawrence Agubuzu, the Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom, made the appeal during the 2026 National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

“Bring this man out. If we don’t want him in Nigeria, return him to Kenya or London where they took him from.

“Please do something about this. We cannot make progress in this country if we don’t tell ourselves the truth,” Agubuzu told the President.

The summit, themed “The Role of Traditional and Religious Leaders in Advancing the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative,” was convened to deepen community engagement in health sector reforms. It also featured the signing of a compact by traditional and religious leaders committing to champion healthcare delivery within their domains.

However, the event took an unexpected turn during goodwill messages when Agubuzu pressed the President on Kanu’s fate.

“I must tell you, Mr President, that personally I don’t feel very happy because you were not here in the morning when the Ooni of Ife gave the opening remarks and was encouraging us to work as one,” he said. Punch