The South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops have joined the call for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
They issued a joint statement in Awka on Tuesday signed by the Chairman of Anambra Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, and the Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzo Opoko.
The Chairman of Enugu Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, and the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke also appended their signature.
The joint body said it welcomed the Appeal Court judgment which discharged Mazi Kanu.
It described the ruling as an “unprecedented opportunity to overcome the challenge of trust that has obstructed the path to peace.”
“The judgment of the Appellate Court presents a timely and unprecedented opportunity to overcome the challenge of trust that has obstructed the path to peace and opens the window to winning the hearts and minds of the people.
“We, therefore, unequivocally support the call for the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in line with the unanimous judgement of the Court that his extradition and subsequent trial was illegal,” the statement read.
The joint body said it had been consistent in calling for peacebuilding and the resolution of security challenges in the South East based on justice, equity, fairness, and love.
The traditional rulers and bishops said they had undertaken extensive consultations to broker a permanent, regionally coordinated restoration of the South East region of Nigeria.
