Olusegun Bamgbose, the National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, has told President Muhammadu Buhari to release self determination campaigners, Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho, to the Southern Governors.
Nnamdi Kanu is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, after he was a few weeks ago rearrested in Kenya and bundled back to Nigeria while Sunday gboho was arrested in neighbouring Benin Republic on Monday night and is currently in detention in Cotonou.
Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, while Sunday Igboho Is a leading advocate for Oduduwa Republic.
Bamgbose noted that the nation is undoubtedly passing through a very critical moment in its political history and that the future seems to be unpredictable, warning that stakeholders must take extreme caution to avoid disintegration as the unity of Nigeria has never been this weak.
“The truth remains that in any part of the world, where there is unfair treatment, injustice, and inequality, agitation becomes inevitable and legitimate. You can’t push someone and tell him or her where to fall,” the senior lawyer and 2023 presidential hopeful noted.
“We can’t claim to be one nation when there is obvious discrimination in terms of clan or tribe. Agitation is a natural reflection of what goes on in society.
“The Igbos have always complained that they are heavily marginalized in the scheme of things, while the Yorubas are aggrieved that Fulani herders are kidnapping their people, raping their women, destroying their farms, killing them, the one million naira question begging for answers is, how has President Buhari addressed these critical issues?
“President Buhari can’t claim to be the father of the nation when he will treat some as sacred cows and others as sacrificial lambs.
“Clamping down on agitators may not yield a positive result in the long run. The issues must be addressed. Even though I will never be in support of any form of armed struggle , one expects President Buhari to proactively address issues raised by the agitators.
“Jailing the agitators will never put an end to agitation, but escalate it. I will however expect the Southern Governors to rise to the occasion and secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Adeyemo as soon as possible.
“This matter can be resolved in 8 weeks. President Buhari should equally be prepared to release them to the Southern Governors. Our nation needs healing not victimization.
“Buhari’s government will be worse off and will be in the black book of the international community if he so decides to mishandle this matter.
“President Buhari should dialogue with the Southern Governors and release the two agitators to them. I believe this will prove to all Nigerians and the international community that he is indeed a leader to reckon with.
“He should also look into their grievances and address them dispassionately. It won’t be a bad idea if President Buhari will meet with Kanu, Igboho, and the Southern Governors at the Presidential Villa to resolve this matter once and for all. I wish our President the best.”
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