Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied discussing the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), with South East governors during their meeting in Enugu on Tuesday. This clarification came through a statement issued by his special assistant on media, Kehinde Akinyemi, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Contrary to media reports, Obasanjo explained that his meeting with the governors, alongside former Commonwealth secretary-general Emeka Anyaoku, was focused on regional development issues such as security, infrastructure, and economic collaboration.
Akinyemi emphasized, “The purported release of Kanu by the federal government was not part of it.”
Obasanjo stated, “The meeting with them was at my invitation and of Anyaoku before their summit began. The issue of Nnamdi Kanu was not on the agenda and was not discussed in my presence.”
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State had posted a message on social media platform X, leading some to interpret that Obasanjo was involved in the decision to engage the federal government about Kanu’s case.
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According to Premium Times, Otti’s post summarized the South East Governors’ Forum meeting in Enugu, where they discussed critical regional issues and decided to engage the federal government for Kanu’s release.
Otti’s post read: “We have just concluded the South East Governors’ Forum meeting in Enugu, where we deliberated on critical issues affecting our region.
“After thorough discussions with fellow Governors and stakeholders, the following resolutions were reached:
“The Forum commiserated with the Government and people of Abia State, Ebonyi State, Imo State, and the entire South East and Nigeria, along with the Onu Family, on the passing of His Excellency, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.
“The Forum welcomed a distinguished delegation including former President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, Chief Emeka Anyaoku GCON, and His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe CFR, the Obi of Onitsha, who visited in solidarity.
“We reviewed the report from the South East Security and Economic Summit held in Owerri on September 28, 2023. The Forum agreed to implement key security and economic integration recommendations, reaffirming our commitment to actionable plans on these critical issues.
“The forum resolved to visit Mr. President to discuss pressing concerns affecting the South East Region.
“Additionally, we resolved to engage with the federal government to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
In response to the confusion, Obasanjo reiterated that his discussions with the governors were strictly about regional development and that he did not engage in conversations regarding Kanu’s release.