South East Governors’ Forum has decided to visit President Bola Tinubu to request the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The governors reached this decision after a meeting in Enugu State on Tuesday, July 2. Attendees included Governors Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Alex Otti (Abia), Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), and Peter Mbah (Enugu), who gathered in Enugu.

After the meeting, Forum Chairman Governor Uzodinma informed the press that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, and the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe, visited the Forum to show their support.

Uzodinma mentioned that the Forum plans to act on recommendations from the security and economic summit held in Owerri on September 28, 2023. They aim to address key security and economic integration issues.

The Forum also expressed condolences to the governments and people of Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo States, as well as the family of Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, over the passing of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.

Nnamdi Kanu was arrested in July 2015 on treason charges. After being granted bail, he fled the country in 2017 but was rearrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria in 2021. He has since been detained by the Department of State Services.

Uzodinma said,

“The forum received the delegation of the former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCON, and His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe CFR, Obi of Onitsha, who came on a solidarity visit to the forum. The forum resolved to visit Mr. President to discuss pressing issues concerning the south-east region. The forum also resolved to interface with the Federal Government to secure the release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.”

The forum also expressed their condolences to the governments and people of Abia State, Ebonyi State, Imo State, South East Nigeria, and the family of Chief Ogbonnaya Onu on the passing of His Excellency, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.