Jewish priests under the aegis of Unique Forum of Orthodox Judaism, have written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to release the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
This is as Kanu’s family has raised fresh concern over his failing health, begging President Tinubu to grant him permission to access quality health care outside the detention facility of the Department of State Services, DSS, Abuja where he has been confirmed to a solitary confinement since 2021 when he was extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya.
The forum in an open letter to the President, said Kanu’s release would help restore peace and stability to Nigeria, particularly South East where there has been increasing tension over his continued detention.
Leader of the Forum, Rosh Nasishemtov Ihe madunweiheyah, who led the members to the Isiama Afaraukwu palace of Kanu’s late father, said that the IPOB Leader “is unjustly detained”, and called on the President to heed the growing appeals to release him.
Madunweiheyah who read a copy of the letter he jointly signed with the Chairman of the Forum, Elder Okamulata Egbu, said that Kanu was only seeking the good of his oppressed people, and committed no crime to warrant his continued incarceration.
He blamed Nigeria’s travails on Kanu’s continued detention, arguing that God is angry with the country over Kanu’s ordeals.
The Forum maintained that contrary to misconceptions in some quarters, Kanu was not the cause of Nigeria’s problems but part of the solution.
”We humbly appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his cabinet to see reasons to release our son and brother Nnamdi Kanu to go and worship the creator of heaven and earth for peace to reign in this great nation”, the letter read in part.
The members of the forum held prayer session in the palace where Kanu’s late parents, HRM Eze Israel Kanu, and Ugoeze Nnenna Kanu, were buried.
Receiving the group, Kanu’s sister, Princess Nnenne Kate Kanu, said the family was greatly encouraged by their show of concern for their son, and commended them for their solidarity.
She noted that the family had been receiving various groups and individuals coming to identify with them, and to pray for his release.
Princess Kate said that Kanu was not detained over his selfish interests but for seeking justice “for the oppressed people of Biafra”.
She recalled that Nigeria’s current situation was predicted by Kanu but regretted that his warnings were not heeded.
”Is there anything happening in Nigeria today that Nnamdi Kanu did not prophesy? All his prophesies concerning Nigeria have all come to pass but instead of listening to him, they decided to detain him.
”But even in detention he is still concerned about the hardship Nigerians are passing through irrespective of their tribe or religion. He seeks the good of all.
”He does not support the killings in the South East and wants that to stop. His anger is only again the killer herdsmen killing farmers and destroying crops in Biafra land.
”Kanu wants peace to return to Igbo land and that’s why he said that within two minutes of his release, calm will return to the land because he won’t tolerate that.”
She, however, expressed deep worry over his deteriorating health and appealed to President Tinubu to heed to pleas for his release.
Princess Kate said that Kanu’s physician who visited him at the DSS headquarters said that he needed to be further examine outside the detention facility where there are sophisticated equipment.
