Yesterday, being Friday, February 7th, 2020, the Ohanézè Ndígbo Youth Council Worldwide (OYC) urged the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, to grant presidential pardon to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to enable him enter the country to attend his parents’ funeral.

They made the recommendation in a joint statement by the organization’s President General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Secretary, Okwu Nnabuike.

The IPOB leader has been on self-imposed-exile since 2017, following the invasion by the Nigerian Army of his Umuahia country home during operation Python Dance.

His parents who died in 2019 are scheduled to be buried next weekend. His father, Eze I. Ọ. Kanu, was until his death, the traditional ruler of his Afaraukwu town in Umuahia of Abia State.

The Nation Newspaper reports that there has been military presence in the community since the announcement of the late Kanus’ burial. The Ohanézè Ndígbo Youth Council Worldwide are worried over reports of the continued military presence in the community and called the President for their withdrawal.

The OYC said the military presence could damage the image of the Buhari administration further in the eyes of the international community.

The organization said:

Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide is worried about the military Presence at Kanu’s Village,Afaraukwu Umuahia,Abia State few days to the burial of Eze I. O. Kanu and his wife.

We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the international damage it will cause to the reputation and image of Nigeria to the outside world, as the international community is keenly watching to see if there will be any form of human rights violations and abuses by the Nigerian military before, during and after the burial rites of the Igbo paramount ruler and his wife next weekend.

OYC insists there’s no need for any provocative action promoting violence by Nigerian military before, during and after the burial of Eze Kanu, because Abia State is calm and secure.

Buhari should pull out the military and accord the last respect for the late King by granting permission and presidential pardon to Nnamdi Kanu to return and bury his parents according to Igbo tradition and culture.

OYC further urged Buhari to attend or send a delegation to the IPOB leader’s late parents’ funeral. The group said such kind gesture as a presidential pardon to Nnamdi Kanu, releasing the other Biafra agitators who are in detention and sending a delegation to the funeral would be highly commended by both the international community and peace-loving Nigerians at home, and will draw more respect for the President. The cited the presidential gesture granted to the late MKO Abiola as an example.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.