Abuja – The President-General of the Igbo Community Association (ICA) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, has disclosed that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is optimistic about securing his release from the Department of State Services (DSS) custody by April 2025.
Ezenekwe made this known in a statement following his visit to Kanu at the DSS headquarters in Abuja. According to him, despite his prolonged detention, Kanu remains in good health, has gained weight, and is in high spirits.
During their discussion, Kanu reportedly reaffirmed his confidence in his legal team and expressed hope that the courts would grant him freedom in the coming weeks. However, he strongly criticized the lack of decisive leadership among Igbo elites, lamenting that no prominent voices are actively advocating for the region’s political and social interests.
Igbo Leadership Vacuum and Historical Neglect
Kanu’s frustrations extend beyond his personal plight. He highlighted what he described as a historical pattern of neglect toward Igbo freedom fighters. Drawing parallels with Ralph Uwazurike—former leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB)—Kanu warned that the failure to support those who champion Igbo self-determination could weaken the movement’s cause.
“He recalled how Uwazurike, despite his good intentions, was abandoned by his own people during his imprisonment. Such neglect, he cautioned, risks demoralizing future generations committed to the struggle for self-determination,” Ezenekwe stated.
Appeal to President Tinubu
In a direct plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ezenekwe urged him to intervene in Kanu’s case, citing the president’s history in the pro-democracy movement. He called on Tinubu to demonstrate political will by ensuring Kanu’s release, emphasizing that his continued detention symbolizes political repression rather than justice.
“The struggle for justice should not be selective. President Tinubu, once a symbol of resistance against tyranny, now has the opportunity to correct an injustice,” Ezenekwe said.
Call for a Referendum
Kanu reiterated his long-standing call for a referendum as a democratic path to self-determination, insisting that his only ‘crime’ has been awakening the consciousness of his people.
“As our meeting drew to a close, I was struck by Kanu’s resilience. He remains unwavering in his belief that justice will prevail. His message to the Igbo community was clear: we must not abandon those who sacrifice for our collective freedom,” Ezenekwe concluded.
With Kanu’s hopes pinned on an April release, the coming weeks may prove pivotal in determining not just his fate, but also the trajectory of the Igbo struggle for political and economic equity in Nigeria.
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