1 day ago
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…. Demands His Release
ABUJA – A former Attorney General of Imo state and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chukwuma Machukwu-ume, has written a letter to President Bola Tinubu, describing the detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as a prisioner of conscience, who deserves unconditional release.
Machukwu-ume’s letter titled “HEALING THE WOUNDS IN OUR NATION-BUILDING EFFORTS & MATCHING NIGERIA ON TOWARDS A NEW AND STABLE NATION; HENCE THIS PASSIONATE PLEA FOR THE URGENT RELEASE OF MAZI NNAMDI KANU” was dated February 24,and routed through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
The lawyer expressed dismay over the ugly shortcomings being inflicted on the country by the protracted detention and prosecution of Kanu.
Though the legal luminary noted that the Supreme Court of Nigeria, as a policy Court, had directed the continuation of Kanu’s trial, however, Machukwu-ume said the position is subtle nudging for the application of Tinubu’s political sagacity and deftness for a political solution to what he called “bleeding phenomenon in the soul of our fatherland”.
“Good enough it is all well known that you have the wonderful political maturity and will to perform the feat” the erudite lawyer told President Tinubu.
Machukwu-ume reminded Tinubu that great leaders are not defined by their ability to suppress opposition, but by their ability to unify, heal, and reconcile.
“The release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will not be a sign of weakness, but a demonstration of political wisdom and statesmanship.
“It presents an opportunity to turn a new page in Nigeria’s history—one that prioritizes peace, justice, and the collective well-being of all citizens.
“His evolving perspectives, shaped by time and reflection, can be harnessed as a valuable resource in our journey toward a more unified and prosperous nation.
“As you weigh this humble appeal, I urge you to reflect on the pleas of our late sages; Chief Mbazurike Amaechi, Prof. George Achulike Obiozo, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chief Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Edwin Clark, who spent their final years advocating for peace, unity, national healing and requesting for his release. Their voices, though now silent, remain an enduring call for statesmanship and fairness” Machukwu-ume stated.
He reminded President Tinubu of the marble statements he made on November 11, 2024, at the Saudi Summit, which re add s in. parts: “Our own experiences domestically and regionally, have taught us that identity politics are no substitute or respecting the nuances of diversity.
“The path to reconciliation may be fraught with challenges, but it is through honest conversation that we can foster understanding.
“It is our duty to engage in this dialogue with sincerity and resolve recognizing the complexity that each side faces”.
He therefore prayed President Tinubu “to walk the talk”.
“I humbly request for his early release.
“No one will argue that Nigeria did not benefit from the opening of the gate of the then Calabar Prison and from the arrival from exile of the ’80s.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is fast becoming a prisoner of conscience” Machukwu-ume wrote in his letter to President Tinubu.
According to the senior lawyer, a sincere reflection on the antecedents and peculiar circumstances surrounding the emergence of Kanu, and his ordeals in the last Seven (7) years, “clearly shows that the Federal Government of Nigeria needs to reassess its strategy over this national quagmire”.
He explained that coming to terms with this reality will no doubt, assist Government in resolving the protracted national dilemma and moving Nigeria up on a pedestal for a modern and stable nation.
“This is because Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a product of our collective misunderstanding of some inevitable truths and political axioms including: “That our Federalism (considering the inherent and different characters of the Peoples of Nigeria) is meant to comprehensively foster the growth and prosperity of Nigeria’s diverse Peoples within a harmonious framework of constituent communities.
“That it is an irony and hypocritical to be deceptively preaching “the indivisibility of Nigeria” from a mindset that has a total disdain for anything healthy to the true federalism and nationhood of Nigeria where every sub-group ought to have a safe and founded sense of belonging.
“That the manifest selective preference for force and persecution over diplomacy and constructive dialogue in addressing critical national issues—such as the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu—calls for urgent reconsideration.
“That it is a fundamental principle of the Rule of Law that a nation must uphold and enforce the pronouncements of its Courts and adhere to the rules and treaty obligations it has ratified. Any deviation from this standard undermines the integrity of the Courts and jeopardizes the nation’s credibility in the comity of nations” Machukwu-ume stated. END.
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