By Correspondent in Minna.
Worried by what he described as uninformed and increasingly agitated voices among Igbo communities over the imprisonment of the leader of IPOB,Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Niger State chapter, Chief Emmanuel Ezeugo, has raised fresh concerns.
He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to consider granting a presidential pardon or amnesty to the IPOB leader in the spirit of national healing, unity, and reconciliation.
Chief Ezeugo said the release of Kanu remains a critical step toward fostering genuine peace, reducing mistrust, and giving many Igbo citizens a renewed sense of belonging in a country where they believe they face injustice and unequal treatment.
Speaking in an interview with journalusts,the outgoing Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader expressed optimism that President Tinubu’s intervention would help douse tensions and promote peaceful coexistence,particularly between Yoruba and Igbo communities across the country.
He stressed that his plea for Kanu’s release is rooted in a desire for a more united Nigeria and in the belief that the President, as a father to all, possesses the constitutional authority to exercise mercy in the interest of national cohesion.
“We respectfully appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to use his constitutional prerogative of mercy to grant Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a pardon. Such a gesture will help calm frayed nerves, promote peace, and further demonstrate the President’s commitment to inclusivity and the oneness of all Nigerians,” he said.
Ezeugo clarified that the call for a presidential pardon is not an attempt to absolve anyone of responsibility, but rather to open a more favourable pathway for dialogue, reconciliation, and national unity across regional, political, ethnic, religious, and social lines.
“We firmly believe that granting Nnamdi Kanu a pardon will put an end to lingering insinuations and contribute to stability, mutual trust, and a stronger sense of togetherness among Nigerians,” he added.
He also called on Nigerians,especially critical stakeholders,to support all efforts aimed at promoting peace and integration in the country’s diverse society, expressing confidence that releasing Kanu would make “the much-needed difference” in building a more harmonious nation.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
