The apex Igbo socio-political organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to have mercy on Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Ohanaeze President-General, George Obiozor, urged Buhari to use his prerogative of mercy on Kanu and other Igbo youths detained in Nigeria.
He made the appeal at an event organised in his honour by Hope Uzodimma, Imo governor, in Owerri on Saturday.
Obiozor urged the Buhari-led Federal Government to engage “restive” Igbo youths in a dialogue to resolve the crisis in the south-east peacefully.
“We highly recommend that the federal as well as state governments engage the restive Igbo youths in some form of dialogue towards the peaceful resolution of the present crisis,” he said.
“In this context, we equally appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to exercise his prerogative of mercy for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other Igbo youths in detention in various places.”
The Ohanaeze leader further urged IPOB to embrace peace and end its sit-at-home order in the Southeast.
Kanu is in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, in Abuja.
The IPOB leader was detained after he was arrested in Kenya and repatriated in June, 2021.
He was arrested over his agitation for Biafra and by extension, Nigeria’s break up.