The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, has appealed to the Federal Government to release the Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu, who has been in the DSS custody since 2021, is being tried for alleged treason.
The wife of the late Odumegwu Ojukwu made the call in a speech at the 13th Memorial Anniversary of her husband, held on Tuesday in Owerri, with the theme, “Unifying the Igbo Race”
She advised the people of the South-East to look inwards and appraise the Igbo race that made them who they are.
The former Miss Intercontinental title holder admonished them to be their brother’s keeper and love one another.
“In the olden days, we have Igbo unions in places like Kano, Lagos and Kaduna, among others, where the people discuss matters affecting them and how they are going to be in unity and assist one another.
“Today, we are celebrating Chief Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu our uncommon man, a man who stood for peace and equality for every person,” she said.
She expressed dissatisfaction that the peaceful atmosphere, which Igboland was known for no longer obtained in the region.
“There are so many killings, unrest and kidnappings going on today in the region, which is not how it used to be,” Ojukwu said.
She regretted that, presently, many people from the region could not go home again to bury their dead or give their children out to marriage due to the spate of unrest and insecurity.
She urged the people perpetrating this evil act in the region to desist from it and embrace peace.
She argued that some of the perpetrators were from the region and urged them to allow peace to reign.
She condemned the act of killing people in the region “in the name of sit-at-home directive from non-state actors”.
She further expressed regret that this was not what her husband stood for.
“Many people from the South-East have left the region for other cities, like Lagos and other places, due to the spate of insecurity in the area.
“I was saddened when I went to America and one Igbo person met me and told me that they are making donations in America to buy burial ground to bury their dead relations as insecurity in the region doesn’t allow them to come home to bury their dead ones or give their children in marriage,” she said.
Ojukwu said that the release of Kanu would help to ensure total restoration of peace in Igboland.
According to her, if Kanu is released, it will fasttrack development in the region.
In a speech, the organiser of the event, Chief Raph Uwazuruike, also urged the Federal Government to release Kanu.
Uwazuruike, who is the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, opined that Kanu’s release would help the region to experience peace again.
He said that the memorial service was to commorate Ikemba’s legacies, adding that “all the good things he stood for would not be forgotten”.
