Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has on Wednesday called on prominent South-East leaders to join him in a peaceful protest for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
He called on Peter Obi, Anambra Governor Charles Soludo, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, and Abia Governor Alex Otti to join him in the peaceful protest to secure the release of Kanu.
In a post on Facebook, Sowore wrote:
“#FreeNnamdiKanu Update
I have tried reaching out personally to Dr. ALEX C OTTI, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, and Mr. Peter Obi (through his team) today.
Alex Otti and Soludo neither took my calls nor responded to my messages. I was informed that Mr. Peter Obi is currently traveling, but they promised to let him know of our plans.
I also reached out to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar through his team, while Senator Enyi Abaribe said he would return my call. I spoke with Obinna Agwuocha of the House of Representatives. He was receptive and encouraging.
The Abia State House of Assembly members informed me that they plan to travel to London next week and then return directly to Abuja for further action. They mentioned they intend to visit the Attorney General of the Federation first to lodge a complaint; they didn’t anticipate a “placard” protest. I told them, that’s fine; what matters most is that we agree on a unified date for action.
This is not the time for hesitation. If we genuinely believe that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu deserves freedom, then every leader of conscience must act, now, not later.
Stop the communiqués. Stop the pretense. Stop the rhetoric. If you truly want Nnamdi Kanu freed, do more than press releases and communique, let’s all march to Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. I challenge every governor, senator, traditional ruler, priest, eze, and every Igbo person or Nigerian of conscience to join me in a peaceful, lawful march to Aso Rock Villa to demand justice and a final end to MNK’s persecution. #FreeNnamdiKanuNow”
He then added:
“The Presidency is using DSS to contact and threaten politicians from the Southeast, warning them not to endorse the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow movement or participate in #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, the planned march to Aso Rock Villa. They’ve contacted some names mentioned in my postings to gaslight them, claiming the protest was to foment chaos and violence; they’re terrified. However, we move forward and cannot be stop.”
Kanu’s trial for terrorism recently faced a setback when Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed his no-case submission.
The court ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence, including testimony from five witnesses, to establish a prima facie case, requiring Kanu to enter his defense.
The trial has been adjourned to October 8, pending a report from the Nigerian Medical Association on Kanu’s health, which will guide the scheduling of the next hearing.
Sowore’s call adds renewed pressure on South-East leaders, as Kanu’s detention continues to be a flashpoint in Nigeria’s tense socio-political landscape.
