Politics
Release Kanu As Christmas Gift To South East Ohanaeze Tells Tinubu
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the highest socio-political organisation, has requested that Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, be released by the Federal Government as a Christmas present for the South-East.
In a chat with our correspondent on Sunday, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Vice-President Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene made this statement on behalf of the organisation, adding that if Kanu’s release was not achieved, the South-East’s Christmas hopes would be destroyed.
Ohanaeze’s call coincides with the Supreme Court’s decision on December 15, 2023, regarding the Federal Government’s lawsuit against Kanu.
Okeke-Ogene dismissed as unfounded claims that prominent Igbo people, including governors of the region, were behind Kanu’s continued detention.
He said, “We don’t want to dwell much on the politics about the release of Kanu. If he is released on December 15, it is long overdue because competent courts of jurisdiction have on two occasions found him not guilty and also released him, but till now, nothing was done about it.
“So, we hope that the Supreme Court will equally do justice to it with the expectation that every Igbo man is expecting that President Bola Tinubu should know that the money and lives being wasted on the issue are not worth it. And he should, therefore, set the man free as a Christmas gift to the South-East if he truly wants peace to return to the region.
“The President should emulate former Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, who used the carrot and stick approach to stop the issue of militancy in the Niger Delta region. The average Igbo person is also facing the same situation.
“Kanu should be a free man from December 15 and anything short of that has dashed the hope of the whole of the people of South-East this Christmas. If he is not released, it will be a black Christmas in the region.
“We are not in the position to pre-empt the court but for now, we are looking up to the Supreme Court, if it is a country where the judiciary works, we don’t have to be afraid that the Federal Government would influence the judgment.”
Okeke-Ogene, however, berated the Federal Government for its inability to collaborate with the government of Finland to tackle the issue of the autopilot arm of IPOB, led by Simon Ekpa, who is generally acclaimed to be fuelling insecurity in the region in the name of agitation.
“As far as we know, there is a group now using the agitation to cause insecurity in the region. First of all, if Kanu is released, we will hear from him and we will all join hands together to discuss these issues. And our people hiding in the bushes would come out and be rehabilitated.
“On Simon Ekpa and his group in Finland, we believe that the Federal Government is enjoying what they are doing, otherwise there is a diplomatic way of resolving the issue. It is a government-to-government collaboration and the Federal Government has not explored that avenue to resolve the situation.”
Meanwhile, ahead of the Supreme Court judgment, IPOB through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, has raised concern over the promotion of Justice Tsammani Haruna to the Supreme Court.
Powerful, in a statement he issued on Sunday, claimed that Justice Haruna’s promotion was a reward for remanding Kanu in the DSS detention without any charge.
He said, “Recall that Haruna was the judge who okayed the stay of execution of the appeal of the Federal Government after the Appeal Court judges discharged and acquitted Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on October 13, 2022.
“IPOB hopes that Justice Tsammani Haruna was not hastily promoted to the Supreme Court to influence the panel that will deliver the judgment on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case on December 15, 2023.
“It is unlawful for a judge to stay the execution order on a declaratory judgment of the Appeal Court and be made to sit on the Supreme Court to further decide on that case.
“Nevertheless, Justice Tsammani Haruna turned the law on its head and stayed the execution of the Appeal Court judgment that declared the kidnap and extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as unlawful.”
Deji Adeyanju, a Nigerian activist and lawyer, has made explosive claims regarding the 2023 presidential election, suggesting that former Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso secretly supported President Bola Tinubu’s campaign.
In a post shared on his 𝕏 page Thursday, Adeyanju contended that Obi, who ran against Tinubu, would likely continue to support the president in future political endeavors.
He expressed certainty that Obi would decline any efforts to form a coalition aimed at challenging Tinubu in the next election.
READ ALSO: Lad Who Stood In Front Of Obi’s Convoy Apprehended For Street Fighting – Police
“I’m 100% convinced that Obi worked for Tinubu in 2023 and will do so again. I might be wrong, but I’m convinced in my mind about this,” Adeyanju wrote.
“Once a businessman, always a businessman. Those still in doubt will see the clear handwriting before 2027. He will refuse to join the coalition,” he continued.
Additionally, Adeyanju accused Kwankwaso of working in favor of Tinubu during the previous election.
He emphasized that for any opposition coalition to succeed in the 2027 race, figures like Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—another presidential hopeful—must step aside.
“For the coalition to succeed, all the self-centered politicians like Atiku & Obi should promise not to run and allow neutral folks to run against Tinubu,” Adeyanju proposed. “This is how to put the interest of the nation above personal interest,” he added.
The activist went on to criticize the culture surrounding Nigerian politics, describing it as an industry driven by opportunism.
He lamented the presence of “merchants” surrounding top politicians, accusing them of putting personal gain ahead of the country’s well-being. “The biggest industry in Africa is politics,” Adeyanju said.
“And those around popular politicians are all merchants. Once politics is around the corner, they are in business. Con men and women who just want to cash out.”
Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, attended his first National Economic Council (NEC) meeting today at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Ibas was appointed to the position by President Bola Tinubu following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in March 2025.
READ MORE: Tinubu Swears In Ibas As Rivers Sole Administrator
The NEC meeting, which is being presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, gathered a number of state governors and deputy governors from across the 36 states of Nigeria to discuss important national economic issues.
Among the notable figures in attendance was Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress.
Governor Oborevwori led the opening prayers at the meeting on the instruction of Vice President Shettima.
Other state governors present included Rev. Fr. Hycinth Alia of Benue State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak of Kwara, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, and Bassey Otu of Cross River, along with several deputy governors.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), ending his long-standing association with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under which he was elected in 2023.
The switch was confirmed on Wednesday after a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba.
According to his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, the decision came after extensive deliberations.
READ ALSO: Edo LP Senator, Neda Imasuen Set To Join APC
“This move followed wide consultations with political stakeholders and is in the interest of Delta’s long-term development,” Ahon stated.
Oborevwori was welcomed into the APC by senior party figures, marking what observers are calling a calculated political maneuver with potential ramifications for the 2027 elections.
More to follow…………..
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