Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has shed light on the reasons President Bola Tinubu may not release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
This revelation follows a public appeal by Peter Obi, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, who called on President Tinubu to release Kanu and other freedom fighters in detention.
The former Anambra governor argued that there is no justification for Kanu’s continued detention, especially since the courts have ruled in his favour.
Responding to Obi’s plea, Reno Omokri in a tweet on Saturday night revealed that the gravity of Kanu’s alleged crimes is the primary reason for his continued detention.
He wrote:
“Nnamdi Kanu made public broadcasts and statements to his supporters, ordering them to kill officers and men of the Nigerian armed forces.
“I have no problem with Peter Obi calling for Nnamdi Kanu’s release, but what about the troops and other service members who have lost their lives in the Southeast? How will they feel when a man with an ambition to be their Commander-in-Chief campaigns for the freedom of a man who called for their killings?
“There is no country on Earth where you will ask people to kill the nation’s military, police, and other service members, and it would not be considered treason.
“Given that after Kanu made those comments, perhaps over a hundred military, police, and paramilitary officers and men have been killed in the Southeast by unknown gunmen suspected to be members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Peter Obi may have difficulties with the military if he calls for the release of Nnamdi Kanu without first addressing these killings of our service members.
“This is especially true after Peter Obi refused to condemn the killings of five soldiers on May 30, 2024, as IPOB celebrated the 57th anniversary of the declaration of the defunct rebel republic of Biafra less than a month ago. That is until heavy criticism made him issue a tepid statement after twenty-four hours. Where are Peter’s loyalties? Biafra or Nigeria?”