The leadership of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has called on President Bola Tinubu to forthwith release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The group in a communiqué on Tuesday said the fair hearing of the separatist leader may no longer be guaranteed due to controversial and conflicting legal proceedings in different courts.
The communiqué was issued after its general meeting – presided over by the group’s deputy leader Oba Oladipo Olaitan – held at Isanya-Ogbo, the hometown of its leader, Ayo Adebanjo.
In the statement signed by both Olaitan and the National Publicity Secretary of the group Justice Faloye, Afenifere argued that Kanu should be released in the interest of justice and national reconciliation.
Describing Kanu as a political detainee, the group said there is no justification for his continued detention without trial.
“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,” the communiqué reads.
“There is no justifiable reason to continue to keep him in detention without trial,” the communiqué added.
The association also appointed 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 the Afenifere,” it stated.
Afenifere also reiterated the call for state police, saying the vast territory, population, and federation cannot be effectively and meaningfully secured with a single command of unitary police.
“Afenifere reiterates 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 the restructuring to ensure immediate constitutional institutionalization of state police.
“The steps will prevent a situation 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,” the communiqué further read.
