Prominent Igbo leaders, including traditional rulers, religious figures, and political elites, have unanimously endorsed tomorrow’s nationwide protest demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The protest, spearheaded by human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, seeks to compel the Federal Government to comply with court rulings ordering Kanu’s freedom.
Sowore, who announced the planned demonstration earlier in the week via his verified social media handles, described it as a “mass action for justice, peace, and the rule of law.” According to him, the protest transcends Kanu’s individual case—it represents a fight for judicial integrity and the end of selective justice in Nigeria.
Igbo Leaders Call Kanu’s Release a National Imperative
Despite differing opinions across the country, Igbo leaders have termed the agitation for Kanu’s release a national project, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to heed the growing calls for his freedom. They linked the persistent insecurity in the South-East to his continued detention, stressing that his release would help restore peace in the region.
Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, currently on medical treatment abroad, expressed his total support for the rally, saying he would have joined physically if he were in Nigeria. He confirmed that he had already sent a solidarity message to Sowore and praised the courage of all those standing against injustice.
> “Freedom has no tribal boundary; it’s a universal phenomenon. The rally to free Nnamdi Kanu is a gathering of humanity in favour of justice,” Wabara stated.
Traditional Rulers and Clergy Echo the Call
Similarly, the Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Linus Nto Mbah, said it was time for the Federal Government to release Kanu and allow peace to return to the South-East. He appealed to both protesters and security agencies to ensure a peaceful demonstration.
> “We have said it many times—release Nnamdi Kanu to us and let peace be restored. We also urge security operatives to protect, not harm, peaceful protesters,” he said.
Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia Diocese, Archbishop Raphael Opoko, also endorsed the rally, describing it as a pan-Nigerian movement for justice. He warned both protesters and security agencies to avoid violence, stressing that injustice against one Nigerian is injustice against all.
> “If government can negotiate with armed bandits, it has no justification for refusing to free a man who merely seeks justice for his people,” Opoko said.
“Those who make peaceful change difficult make violent change inevitable,” he cautioned, urging protesters to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
Igbo Women Join the Movement
Women under the banner of the Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) also declared their full participation. The group’s National President, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, said she had already arrived in Abuja to join the protest, emphasizing that Kanu committed no crime to justify his continued detention.
> “Kanu is our son, and we cannot abandon him. We urge President Tinubu, who has granted pardons to others, to extend the same mercy to him,” Chimezie appealed.
Political Voices Back Sowore
Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, praised Sowore’s initiative, describing the protest as a bold and just action against injustice.
> “From the beginning, there was no basis for his detention. Real terrorists are being granted amnesty, while Kanu remains in custody. His case has become a symbol of the Igbo man’s dilemma in Nigeria,” Okorie said.
Similarly, former President of the Igbo socio-cultural group Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, declared that any effort to secure Kanu’s release deserves national support.
> “If protesting will make the government release him, I support it. We can’t keep releasing terrorists while detaining someone who has merely called for fairness,” Uwazurike stated.
Ohanaeze Youth Council: A Pan-Nigerian Protest for Justice
The National President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Comrade Igboayaka Igboayaka, described Sowore’s call as “the first-ever pan-Nigerian demonstration for justice.” He said the protest at the Presidential Villa on October 20 symbolized a united demand for fairness, equity, and national reconciliation.
> “This is not Sowore’s personal protest; it’s a collective national movement. The government must stop applying one law for the North and another for the South-East,” he warned, urging President Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General to withdraw all charges against Kanu.
Northern Groups Oppose the Protest
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has condemned the planned demonstration, describing it as “reckless, provocative, and a direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and judiciary.”
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, CNG National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Charanchi, argued that the matter should be left for the courts to decide, accusing the organizers of emotional blackmail.
> “Kanu’s actions have led to loss of innocent lives and economic setbacks in the South-East. The government must ensure his trial runs its full course without political interference,” Charanchi stated.
The group also called on security agencies to prevent any breakdown of law and order and demanded an investigation into individuals funding or coordinating the protests.
Youth Council Cautions Against Participation
In a related development, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Interim Management Committee has warned young Nigerians to avoid the planned October 20 protest, citing security concerns and a court injunction restraining the demonstration.
The NYCN Chairman, Mr. Buhari Shehu, noted that the Federal High Court in Abuja had granted an order preventing the protest, while the U.S. Embassy issued a security advisory warning its citizens to avoid affected areas.
> “We urge all Nigerian youths to exercise restraint and stay out of trouble. The planned protest could lead to chaos and endanger lives and property,” the Council cautioned.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, facing multiple charges bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony.
