The Ayo Adebanjo faction of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
According to the group, Kanu’s release has become necessary due to the controversial and conflicting legal proceedings in different courts regarding his case.
The call was made in a communiqué issued at a general meeting presided over by the group’s deputy leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, held at Isanya-Ogbo, the hometown of its leader, Adebanjo.
The group described Kanu as a political detainee, adding that his release would be in the interest of justice and national reconciliation.
“Afenifere notes that, from all circumstances, particularly since his abduction in 2021 and repatriation to Nigeria, and since then subjected to controversial and conflicting legal proceedings in different courts, by which his fair trial may no longer be guaranteed in the opinion of reasonable members of the public, it is clear that Nnamdi Kanu is undoubtedly a political detainee,” Afenifere said.
“There is no justifiable reason to continue to keep him in detention without trial,” the organisation added.
Afenifere also announced the appointment of lawyer Dele Farotimi as the National Organising Secretary of Afenifere.
“The General Meeting considered and approved the appointment of Barrister Dele Farotimi as the National Organising Secretary of Afenifere,” the organisation stated.
Afenifere reiterated the position that Nigeria, with its vast territory, population, and as a federation, cannot be effectively and meaningfully secured with a single command unitary police structure, and thus the need for restructuring to ensure immediate constitutional institutionalisation of state police.
“The steps will prevent a situation where the Governor of Oyo State, even as the Chief Security Officer, had to helplessly and lamentably make an outcry on the infiltration of bandits into his state,” Afenifere concluded.
