A former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to exercise his constitutional powers and grant clemency to Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Idimogu emphasized that his focus is not on who is right or wrong in the ongoing legal battle, but rather on the need for a political solution to restore peace and stability in the South East region and the country as a whole. He urged the president to act compassionately, stating that what is needed now is clemency.
Kanu, who was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2021 and extradited to Nigeria, has been facing charges including treasonable felony. His arrest and continued detention have led to unrest and protests across the South-East.
Idimogu, who is also the deputy leader of Ndigbo in the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), believes that granting Kanu a pardon would be a strategic move ahead of the 2027 general elections. He noted that such a decision could calm tensions and reignite economic activities in the region, which has suffered due to insecurity.
He appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, regardless of region or ethnicity, as well as South-East governors and Igbo leaders, to join him in urging President Tinubu to consider clemency for Kanu as a means of healing and fostering national unity.
Idimogu highlighted that the South-East region, once vibrant, is now plagued by insecurity and that the president’s intervention could change this situation. He expressed confidence in Tinubu’s compassionate leadership and urged him to demonstrate this once again.
He concluded by stating that releasing Kanu could enhance the ruling APC’s political fortunes in the South-East, as it would be seen as a goodwill gesture resonating with the aspirations of the Igbo people. If this is done, he believes the South-East will remember President Tinubu positively, bringing votes, peace, and gratitude.
