VENO TV: “Mr President, Release Nnamdi Kanu” — South-East Youths See Us as Sellouts, Says Igwe Agubuzu By Kayode Adoide | VENO tv Date: 20-02-26
The traditional ruler of Ezema Olo Kingdom in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, His Royal Highness, Igwe Lawrence Chikezie Agubuzu (Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom), has made a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Speaking during a recent engagement, Igwe Agubuzu lamented that many youths in the South-East now perceive traditional rulers, political leaders, and elders as “sellouts” for failing to secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu, whom they see as a symbol of their struggle and grievances.
According to the monarch, the continued detention of Kanu has deepened mistrust between the youths and leadership in the region, further worsening tensions and insecurity in parts of the South-East.
“Mr President, release Nnamdi Kanu. Our youths now see us as sellouts because we have not been able to bring him back home. If the Federal Government is not comfortable with keeping him in Nigeria, he should be returned to Kenya or the United Kingdom,” Igwe Agubuzu stated.
The traditional ruler argued that releasing Nnamdi Kanu could serve as a confidence-building measure and a step towards restoring peace, dialogue, and reconciliation in the region. He maintained that many agitations in the South-East are fueled by feelings of marginalization and injustice, which require political and diplomatic solutions rather than prolonged detention.
Observers believe that calls for Kanu’s release have continued to gain momentum among various stakeholders in the South-East, including traditional rulers, clerics, and civil society groups, who argue that dialogue remains the most sustainable path to peace.
VENO tv recalls that the Federal Government has consistently maintained that Kanu is being prosecuted according to Nigerian law, while his supporters continue to demand his unconditional release on humanitarian and political grounds.
As the debate rages on, the call by Igwe Agubuzu adds to the growing pressure on the Federal Government to explore non-violent, inclusive approaches to resolving the lingering tensions in the South-East.