Afenifere Calls for Immediate Release of Nnamdi Kanu
The Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, has called on President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action and release Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), stating that his continued detention is both unjustifiable and politically motivated.
In a statement issued following a meeting at the residence of Afenifere leader Pa Ayo Adebanjo in Isanya Ogbo, the group described Kanu as a political detainee. The communiqué, signed by Afenifere’s Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, condemned Kanu’s prolonged detention, urging President Tinubu to act swiftly in his release.
Afenifere Asserts Kanu’s Political Detention and Compromised Trial
The statement further highlighted the series of legal contradictions surrounding Kanu’s case, pointing to his abduction in 2021 and subsequent controversial rendition to Nigeria. The group emphasized that Kanu’s trial has been undermined, with public perception of an unfair process continuing to grow. Afenifere argued that for the sake of justice and national unity, Kanu should be released without further delay.
“There is no justifiable reason to continue holding him without trial,” the communiqué read.
Afenifere Addresses National Security and Restructuring Needs
Apart from the call for Kanu’s release, Afenifere also expressed concerns about the nation’s ongoing security challenges, which have persisted from the previous administration into the present. Drawing attention to a recent warning by Governor Seyi Makinde regarding the rise in banditry, Afenifere reiterated its stance on restructuring Nigeria’s security apparatus. The group stressed the necessity of establishing state police, given the vast territory and population of the country, arguing that a single, centralized police force is inadequate for effective national security.
Afenifere Appoints New National Organizing Secretary Amid Calls for Change
In addition to the security and political demands, Afenifere announced the appointment of Barrister Dele Farotimi as its new National Organizing Secretary. The meeting was attended by several prominent figures, including former Lagos State Deputy Governor Senator Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele and National Publicity Secretary Prince Justice Faloye, among others from across the South West, Kogi, and Kwara states.
The organization’s demands reflect its broader vision for a more just and reformed Nigeria, where issues of justice, security, and political fairness are prioritized.
