The voices calling for the release of separatist leaders Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho have grown louder, with the Oduduwa Integrity Association making a passionate plea to the federal government to temper justice with mercy.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the group urged leaders from both the northern and southern parts of the country to rally behind the cause, stressing that both men have “suffered greatly” in detention and have, in their words, “learnt their lessons.”
“We do not support criminality,” the group declared. “But we beg Mr. President, in the name of Almighty God, in the name of Jesus, and in the name of Prophet Mohammed, to consider mercy. Let them be granted conditional freedom and handed over to respected traditional rulers and political heavyweights in their regions.”
The appeal, deeply emotional in tone, underscored the human cost of the prolonged detentions. Supporters argue that beyond the political and legal implications, the families and communities of Kanu and Igboho have endured years of uncertainty and hardship. “They have been through trials, both physical and emotional,” the statement noted. “This should count as part of their punishment.”
While acknowledging that laws were broken, the Oduduwa Integrity Association insisted its intervention should not be misconstrued as undermining the authority of the courts. Instead, it framed the call as a humanitarian request aimed at fostering reconciliation and national healing.
For many Nigerians, the cases of Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and Igboho, a Yoruba nation activist, remain among the most sensitive issues in the country’s political landscape. Their arrests and detentions sparked protests, debates, and in some cases unrest, exposing deep-seated grievances about representation, justice, and unity in Africa’s most populous nation.
As the government weighs its options, the plea from the Oduduwa Integrity Association adds a new moral and emotional dimension to a conversation that continues to divide public opinion: should mercy prevail, or should the law take its full course?
It is certain that the offence of the detained IPOB leader is a difficult one and can only be resolved by a competent Court of Law.
ReplyDeleteIt will be fair if Federal Government could look into the issue with an open mind.
Prolong detention and restrictions of Ñnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho could make Federal to run foul of the Human Rights Laws.
Tension in the South East and some parts of Yoruba land could be abated if the dou are released.
Releasing them will uphold Judicial Fairness and due process.
Relationship between the Government and Southern part of the Country will be improved if they are set free.
Credibility and legitimacy of Federal Government will be boosted in the eyes of the people.
Federal Government should avoid a breach of their rights to Fair hearing.