Buhari pardoned boko haram fighters, Tinubu can release Nnamdi Kanu – Ohanaeze fires at CNG
The Igbo socio-cultural and political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has defended calls for President Bola Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, stating that there is nothing wrong with such demands.
Ohanaeze argued that if former President Muhammadu Buhari could pardon thousands of Boko Haram fighters through a government rehabilitation program, then President Tinubu also has the power to grant Kanu’s release. In a statement on Friday, the group’s Deputy President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, described Kanu as a “prisoner of conscience.”
According to reports, Ohanaeze’s statement comes in response to an earlier declaration by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), which criticized political figures, including the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for advocating Kanu’s release.
CNG’s National Coordinator, Jamilu Aliyu, accused Obi of promoting ethnic interests by supporting Kanu and warned northern voters against backing any politician associated with IPOB, arguing that such alliances disregard the suffering of Nigerians affected by the group’s activities.
However, in his response on Friday, Isiguzoro condemned CNG’s stance, accusing the coalition of pursuing a divisive northern agenda that could destabilize Nigeria.
“In a moment of profound concern for our collective national integrity and the protection of all Nigerian citizens, Ohanaeze Ndigbo— the apex sociocultural organization representing the Igbo people— unequivocally condemns the recent vitriol emanating from the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG).
“This misguided barrage of incendiary rhetoric directed at the Igbo nation constitutes an affront not only to our dignity but to the social fabric of Nigeria. It is a calculated ploy, a part of a sinister Northern agenda, aimed expressly at destabilizing the fragile harmony that continues to characterize our multicultural society.
“The CNG’s assertion that all Igbo leaders should be classified as terrorists because they are advocating for a political resolution regarding the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a man best described as a prisoner of conscience, is a grave mischaracterization that seeks to instigate division and unrest. This campaign against prominent Igbo figures is conspicuously timed, coinciding with increased insecurity in the Southeast, largely a consequence of the unchecked violence perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen during the previous administration under Muhammadu Buhari.
“It is imperative to recall the historical context— under Buhari’s leadership, over 9,800 Boko Haram terrorists were released through purported rehabilitation programs; a controversial policy that only served to exacerbate the rampant insurgency plaguing the Northern region, catapulting terrorism incidents from two states to fifteen. This context raises questions regarding the motives of those now seeking to scapegoat the Igbo people amidst the chaos that continues to bedevil our nation.”
Speaking further, Ohanaeze warned against destabilizing the government of President Tinubu just like that of former President Goodluck Jonathan was undermined for selfish reasons.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo finds the recent attacks by the CNG to be not only unfounded but also emblematic of the broader schemes woven by Northern opposition leaders to use the Igbo people as political pawns in destabilizing the Tinubu administration. Such tactics are reminiscent of the cynical manoeuvres employed to undermine former President Goodluck Jonathan, and it is with this historical awareness that we view the current machinations of the CNG. This narrative, designed to provoke conflict between communities, is simplistic and transparent in its motivation,” he said.
The statement expressed belief that President Tinubu would listen to appeals from the Igbo community and release Nnamdi Kanu.
“As we witness these troubling developments, we stand firm in our belief that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a duly elected leader and a man of discernment, will recognize the importance of fostering peace and understanding among the diverse ethnic groups that make up our nation. We trust that he will honour the overtures from the Igbo community and recognize Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s situation for what it truly is— an issue of conscience rather than hostility,” Isiguzoro added.
CNG Should Be Cautioned
Ohanaeze further appealed to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to caution the CNG against making provocative remarks against other regions and ethnicities in Nigeria.
“We therefore call upon the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to provide guidance to the CNG. We urge them to adopt a stance rooted in diplomacy rather than divisiveness, focusing their efforts on alleviating the very real problems of insurgency and banditry that plague the North, rather than directing incendiary rhetoric towards a group that seeks only peaceful solutions.
“In conclusion, we reaffirm that the Northern attacks on the Igbo people are not merely provocative—they are dangerous. We will not remain passive in the face of attempts to instigate ethnic conflict. It is vital now, more than ever, that we stand united against those who would seek to use our diversities as tools for discord and destruction. The path to national unity is paved with mutual respect, understanding, and dialogue,” the statement concluded.
