Independence Day: Ohanaeze Youth Leader Urges Tinubu to Release Nnamdi Kanu for National Reconciliation
By Globalvoice
The National President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Igboayaka Igboayaka, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider releasing the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, as part of efforts to promote national healing and reconciliation.
Igboayaka made the call in an Independence Day statement on Thursday, October 1, 2026, arguing that Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary should provide an opportunity for the Federal Government to address longstanding grievances and rebuild trust with communities that feel alienated from the country.
He said Independence Day should not only commemorate the sacrifices of Nigerians who fought for freedom and nationhood, but should also remind present leaders of their responsibility to uphold justice, liberty, dialogue and reconciliation.
According to Igboayaka, Kanu’s continued imprisonment remains a highly sensitive issue in the South-East and requires broader national dialogue aimed at reducing tensions and addressing longstanding grievances.
‘Kanu’s Imprisonment Remains an Open Wound’
Igboayaka described Kanu’s case as an “open wound” for many Igbo people and urged President Tinubu to explore what he described as every lawful political option toward securing his release.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s ordeal remains an open wound to Ndigbo, and I appeal to President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate statesmanship by exploring every lawful political solution available to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which is geared towards national reconciliation,” Igboayaka said.
He stressed that the call should not be interpreted as a rejection of the judicial process, but rather as an appeal for dialogue and reconciliation over an issue that has continued to generate strong emotions and political concerns in the South-East.
“We cannot speak about freedom, independence and the sacrifices of our past heroes while ignoring the divisions and grievances that continue to affect our people today,” he said.
“Independence should remind us of the value of liberty and the responsibility of government to build trust among its citizens.”
Ohanaeze Calls for Political Dialogue
Igboayaka further argued that President Tinubu has an opportunity to make national reconciliation part of his administration’s legacy by engaging relevant political, religious and community stakeholders on the Kanu issue.
He said such an approach could help rebuild confidence between the Federal Government and sections of the Igbo population who, according to him, feel alienated from the Nigerian project.
The Ohanaeze youth leader also called for what he described as a renewed commitment to justice and equity, alleging that the Igbo people have faced longstanding grievances since the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970.
He made the appeal in strong terms, stating:
“Those who enjoy Nigeria’s independence, but conspired against Nnamdi Kanu, a leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, have murdered sleep and they will sleep no more.”
Kanu Serving Life Sentence
Kanu was convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 20, 2025, on seven terrorism-related counts and sentenced to life imprisonment, alongside additional prison terms on other counts.
He subsequently appealed the conviction and sentence.
In February 2026, Kanu filed an appeal seeking to overturn the judgment and have his conviction and sentence set aside.
He has remained in custody while the legal process continues.
Calls for Political Resolution Continue
Igboayaka’s Independence Day appeal comes amid continuing demands from some political, religious and community figures for a political or negotiated resolution to Kanu’s case.
Supporters of such an approach argue that political dialogue could help address wider grievances associated with IPOB and tensions in the South-East.
The Federal Government, however, has continued to rely on the judicial process in dealing with Kanu’s case.
As the country marks another Independence Day, the renewed call from Ohanaeze places Kanu’s imprisonment back at the centre of a wider debate over national reconciliation, justice, political dialogue and the relationship between the Federal Government and the South-East.
#Nigeria #IndependenceDay #October1 #NnamdiKanu #Tinubu #BolaAhmedTinubu #Ohanaeze #OhanaezeYouthCouncil #IgboayakaIgboayaka #IPOB #SouthEastNigeria #Southeast #Igbo #NationalReconciliation #NationalHealing #NigeriaPolitics #NigerianPolitics #KanuAppeal #FederalHighCourt #Justice #Dialogue #PoliticalNews #BreakingNews #NigeriaNews #Globalvoice
