The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Tuesday called on the Nigerian government to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The foremost Yoruba group renewed the call for Kanu’s release during its monthly meeting at Isanya-Ogbo, the country home of the group’s leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, in Ogun State.
Additionally, the group ratified and confirmed Barrister Dele Farotimi as the new National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, stating, “The General Meeting considered and approved the appointment of Barrister Dele Farotimi as the National Organising Secretary of Afenifere.”
In a communiqué signed by the Deputy Leader of the group, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and the National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye, the group called for Kanu’s release in the interest of justice and national reconciliation.
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The group maintained that there is no justifiable reason to keep Kanu in detention without trial, urging President Bola Tinubu to release the IPOB leader.
The communiqué read: *”Afenifere notes that, from all circumstances—particularly since his abduction in 2021, his rendition to Nigeria, and his subsequent subjection to controversial and conflicting legal proceedings in different courts, which, in the opinion of reasonable members of the public, may no longer guarantee him a fair trial—it is clear that Nnamdi Kanu is indubitably a political detainee.
“In the interest of justice and national reconciliation, Afenifere urges President Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu forthwith. There is no justifiable reason to continue keeping him in detention without trial.”*
On security, Afenifere highlighted “the terrible security situation, which worsened under the Buhari administration and remains unabated,” calling on President Tinubu, as the Commander-in-Chief, to take bold, positive, and ideological steps to ensure the genuine protection of life and property across the country.
Afenifere reiterated its stance that Nigeria, with its vast territory, large population, and federal structure, cannot be effectively and meaningfully secured under a single-command, unitary police structure. It, therefore, emphasized the need for restructuring to ensure the immediate constitutional institutionalization of state police.
“These steps will prevent situations like the one in which the Governor of Oyo State, even as the Chief Security Officer, had to helplessly and lamentably raise an outcry over the infiltration of bandits into his state.”
The meeting was presided over by the Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and attended by delegates from the six South-West states, including Kogi and Kwara states.
Some of the members who attended the meeting included former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; Chief Sola Ebiseni; Chief Akin Osuntokun; Professor Akin Onigbinde; Elder Tola Mobolurin; Dr. Gbola Adetuji; and Olorogun Pop Ayo-Banjo, among others.
