Ohanaeze calls for amnesty for Nnamdi Kanu
In an effort to foster national reconciliation and fortify unity throughout the nation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo sociocultural organization, has urged President Bola Tinubu to grant amnesty to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), by June 12, 2026, at the latest.
Kanu release, ideally timed to coincide with Nigeria Democracy Day, would signify a bold commitment to justice, inclusion, and resolving long-time disputes in the Southeast, according to a press release issued and endorsed by the factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and the National spokesperson, Chief Thompson Ohia.
Ohanaeze stated that many people have misinterpreted Kanu’s agitation, claiming that his support is more in line with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu intellectual vision specifically, the idea of a “Biafra of the Mind”—than with a fresh attempt at secession.
The group claims that this ideology fosters awareness, dialogue-based self-determination, and socio-political justice in a unified Nigeria.
The group noted that Kanu’s initial strategy was based on nonviolence and public awareness, tracing his activity back to his early position under Ralph Uwazuruike. It did, however, concede that changing political tensions and security concerns over time led to a change in tone, which has since been misunderstood by many.
Ohanaeze also downplayed concerns that Kanu’s release may cause instability in the nation or jeopardise the president’s chances of winning reelection in 2027. Rather, it contended that doing so would probably improve Tinubu’s reputation in the Southeast and show leadership based on peacemaking.
In addition, the organization claimed that opposition leaders like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso are using Kanu’s ongoing arrest as a political ploy to rally Igbo voters in advance of the next elections in 2027. Ohanaeze praised the Tinubu administration during its request for the Southeast’s continuous infrastructure development, especially the restoration of important federal roads.
Although it emphasised that freeing Kanu would have considerably more symbolic and political value, it described these initiatives as a positive beginning.
The group reiterated its position and said it was confident that, should Kanu be freed, he would welcome communication and make a positive contribution to the country’s conversation rather than provoke violence.
The statement ended, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo believes that granting amnesty to Nnamdi Kanu will open a new chapter of trust, unity, and cooperative nation-building.”
