By Joe Udo
OWERRI (CONVERSEER) – Jewish leaders in the South-East and parts of the South-South region have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to exercise his presidential prerogative and order the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The appeal followed a prayer and fasting session, as well as a peaceful solidarity rally held on Thursday at Kanu’s residence in Isiama Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Abia State.
The worshippers also called on Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, to mobilise his South-East counterparts to collectively urge President Tinubu to grant Kanu freedom.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Paul Onyebuchi Nwankwo, a leader of the Jewish community from Ikwocha, Rivers State, emphasised that Kanu had not committed any crime and should be released in the interest of justice and peace.
“We are pleading to Dr Alex Otti, the executive Governor of Abia State, and all other governors in Biafra land, and also pleading with President Bola Tinubu, to please, we are pleading with the brothers and sisters of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, our freedom fighter,” Nwankwo said.
“Please, you should please release him. He has committed no crime. Freedom is what everybody needs. We need freedom, and that is what our leader is asking for. He has committed no crime.
“So, we are pleading today as we call on God to have mercy on us, his people. We are also using the opportunity to plead with our president and the governors, and the people of this land, to seek the release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” he added.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, facing trial on charges bordering on treasonable felony. His continued detention has drawn appeals from several political, religious, and traditional groups, both within and outside the South-East.
