Kanu’s Life Imprisonment Unfair, Ohanaeze Tells FG
•By Admin
ABUJA – OHANAEZE Ndigbo has faulted the life imprisonment sentence handed to IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, warning that the judgment risks worsening tensions in the Southeast and renewing its call for a political solution.
The apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, said it was disappointed by the sentence delivered by Justice James Omotosho, describing it as a development capable of inflaming already fragile sentiments in the region.
In a statement issued on Friday, the organisation’s spokesman, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, disclosed that the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, has appealed for calm despite the rising wave of anger among the citizens.
Chukwu stated that Mbata urged well-meaning Nigerians to join efforts to appeal to President Bola Tinubu for a political resolution, emphasising that national reconciliation must take precedence in handling the matter.
He noted that many Igbo people interpret the judgment as part of a recurring “pattern of harsh treatment” that appears ethnically biased, a perception he said undermines trust in state institutions and strikes at the dignity of the Igbo nation.
“Beyond the legal questions, the Igbo nation is deeply troubled by the pattern of harsh treatment meted out in this case, which many perceive as reflective of ethnic bias.
“This perception erodes trust in national institutions and touches directly on the dignity and integrity of the Igbo people.
“Ohanaeze is equally alarmed by the worsening insecurity in the Southeast, much of which is tied to the prolonged detention of Kanu.
“His incarceration has become a flashpoint for unrest, frustration and youth radicalization. Continued hardline responses will only deepen instability.”
The organisation urged President Tinubu to embrace dialogue, insisting that a political solution, not “cruel punishment” remains the most viable path to restoring calm in the Southeast and fostering true national unity.
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads. Only justice anchored on fairness, sensitivity and inclusiveness can preserve the unity we all desire,” Chukwu added.
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