Group Urges S’East Governors To End Rhetoric, Secure Kanu’s Release

A group under the aegis of the Concerned Igbo Ministers Commission (CIMC) has called on governors of the South-East to move beyond what it described as “endless rhetoric” and take concrete action to secure the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu has been in DSS custody on terrorism and criminal conspiracy.

The group, in a public letter dated September 28, 2025, and addressed to the South-East Governors’ Forum, a copy of which was obtained by THE WHISTLER, expressed dissatisfaction with the governors’ handling of the issue, accusing them of “weakness and complicity” in the continued detention of Kanu despite a clear court order for his release.

The letter, signed by Rev. Uzor Anthony, President of CIMC, directly criticized repeated assurances by governors that they were in talks with the Federal Government on the matter.

“Every six months or so, one of you governors we elected to serve us, will issue a watery meaningless statement that very soon Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be released. This is the 5th year of continuous illegal incarceration of an Igbo son,” the letter stated.

The group argued that the appeal court judgment of October 13, 2022, which discharged and acquitted Kanu and ordered his unconditional release, was sufficient ground for the governors to demand immediate compliance rather than engage in “quiet diplomacy”.

“It threw out all the charges against him. It didn’t just say ‘try again,’ it said he is free and clear of all accusations. It ordered the DSS to release him immediately and without any conditions,” the Commission stressed.

It described the ongoing “talks” by the governors as misleading and counterproductive.

“You are negotiating with a lawbreaker. When someone is breaking the law, you don’t negotiate with them; you demand they stop. By having secret talks, you are making it seem like the government has a right to hold him, when it does not,” the group declared.

The letter accused Igbo political leaders of failing to rise to the occasion, noting that Kanu’s prolonged detention had revealed the “irrelevance of Igbo politicians” in defending their people.

“You Igbo political leaders…have no honour left. This Nnamdi Kanu issue has exposed the irrelevance of Igbo politicians and frankly it’s a shame,” it said.

The group urged the governors to immediately adopt a united front by speaking with “one loud voice” and demanding Kanu’s release based on the subsisting court order.

“All five of you must come together and issue a single, strong statement. This statement must tell the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu immediately, simply because the court has said so,” the letter advised.

The Commission further dismissed attempts to frame the matter as a political or IPOB-specific issue, insisting it was fundamentally a question of the rule of law and constitutional governance.

“Stop acting like this is only an ‘IPOB problem.’ This is a Rule of Law problem, this is a clear Igbo problem. If the government can lock up any person it dislikes against a court order, then nobody is safe,” the group warned.

The Commission reminded the governors of their constitutional duty to defend the rights of citizens under their care.

“We, the people… We see the court paper that sets him free. We see the courage you are lacking. The time for hiding and holding secret meetings is over. Your job is to lead and to defend the law. Stop the talks. Do your job. Bring him home now,” the letter added.