Abaribe Urges Tinubu to Heed Calls for Kanu’s Release to End Southeast Instability

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, is confident that President Bola Tinubu will respond to the calls for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The lawmaker, speaking to reporters after a visit to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, emphasized that President Tinubu is a “listening leader” who will take the necessary steps to address the ongoing issues in the Southeast.

Abaribe expressed hope that President Tinubu would heed the recommendations from the Attorney General of the Federation, alongside other key voices advocating for Kanu’s release. The lawmaker argued that resolving this matter would help curb the rising criminal activities in the Southeast, such as insurgency and the disruptive Monday sit-at-home orders.

“Criminals have hijacked the region, using Kanu’s name to justify their violent actions. It’s clear that the President, known for his attentiveness to concerns, will act on these pressing issues and release Kanu,” Abaribe said. He believes that such a move would restore peace and stability, ultimately reinvigorating the Southeast as a major economic hub in Nigeria.

On the matter of the Tax Reform Bills currently before the National Assembly, Abaribe linked the release of Kanu to the region’s economic revival. “You cannot tax people who aren’t producing,” he noted, stressing that Kanu’s freedom would enable the region to overcome the obstacles hindering its growth.

Abaribe also pledged that political leaders in the region would stand as guarantors to ensure the peaceful release of Kanu. “We are prepared to take responsibility for his release so that the Southeast can rid itself of criminals, kidnappers, and other dangerous elements, restoring safety and prosperity,” he concluded.