South-East Governors Yet To Meet With Tinubu Over Nnamdi Kanu's Release Eight Months After Promise

March 26, 2025

Published On the Biafra Post

Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has questioned why the South-East governors have yet to hold a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on the release of the IPOB leader eight months after promising to engage the President.

South-East Governors Yet To Meet With Tinubu Over Nnamdi Kanu's Release Eight Months After Promise

Ejimakor, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, expressed disappointment over the delay, asking the governors to explain why their promised commitment has not materialised.

“In July 2024, Southeast Governors gathered together in Enugu and publicly promised to meet with President Tinubu for the release of Nnamdi Kanu,” Ejimakor stated.

He added, “South-East governors need to tell the public why this meeting has not been held after 8 months. A promise is a debt.”

The South-East governors, during their meeting in Enugu in 2024, acknowledged the growing agitation for Kanu’s release and assured stakeholders that they would lobby the presidency to secure his freedom.

The move was seen as an attempt to address rising tensions in the region, where IPOB’s activities have been a major security concern.

Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest and extradition from Kenya in June 2021, faces charges related to terrorism and treasonable felony.

Various court rulings, including a 2022 judgment by the Court of Appeal discharging him, have complicated the legal battle, yet he remains detained following the government’s appeal.

The failure of the governors to follow through on their promised commitment has fuelled frustration among Kanu’s supporters and political observers.

Many believe that engaging Tinubu on the issue is critical to fostering peace in the South-East, where insecurity linked to IPOB’s agitation has led to frequent clashes between security forces and separatist elements.

Ejimakor’s remarks have reignited calls for the governors to act on their promise, with critics questioning their political will or possible external pressures stalling their efforts.

The development also raises concerns about the relationship between the South-East political leadership and the Nigerian government under President Tinubu.

As tensions persist, analysts warn that prolonged inaction on Kanu’s case could deepen discontent in the region, potentially affecting political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections.

Whether the governors will finally push for a meeting with Tinubu remains uncertain, but pressure continues to mount.

Efforts to get reactions from the South-East Governors’ Forum were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

In July 2024, Southeast Governors gathered together in Enugu & publicly promised to meet with President Tinubu for the release of MAZI NNAMDI KANU. SE Governors need to tell the public why this meeting has not held after 8 months. A promise is a debt.

— aloy ejimakor (@AloyEjimakor) March 25, 2025