In a fervent appeal, Igbo youths operating under the banner of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to unconditionally release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). They contend that his release should mirror the manner in which Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, was released from detention by Beninese authorities.
COSEYL conveyed their plea in an official statement issued by its President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem. They have advanced the claim that the release of Sunday Igboho was facilitated by the Federal Government, although Sunday Igboho himself expressed gratitude to figures such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Wole Soyinka, and Ayo Adebanjo, among others, for their role in securing his freedom.
COSEYL, however, remains adamant in asserting that the Federal Government played a pivotal role in Sunday Igboho’s release. Their statement read, “We are very aware that the Federal Government played a significant role in securing the release of Sunday Igboho from detention in Benin Republic.”
The group emphasized their stance on what they perceive as selective justice, stating, “It amounts to selective justice for the federal government to facilitate and secure the release of Sunday Igboho from detention, while leaving Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is an agitator like Sunday Igboho, in custody.”
COSEYL further defended the legitimacy of agitating for one’s rights, stating, “Agitation is not a crime under the law. It is the right of any citizen who feels shortchanged or aggrieved to agitate for his or her rights.”
They expressed their astonishment at the Federal Government’s apparent inconsistency, saying, “We are very surprised that the FG, saddled with the responsibility of protecting and providing security for Nigerians, will know the right thing to do in order to restore security in the South East zone, which is to unconditionally release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from DSS custody as ordered by the Federal Court of Appeal, and yet refuse to do it. This amounts to double standard.”
COSEYL firmly asserted that the festering insecurity in the South East zone is exacerbated by the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, stating, “The insecurity in the South East geopolitical zone is because of the unlawful incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu and the marginalization of the people of South East in the scheme of things.”
They attributed the call for a referendum by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the perceived marginalization and maltreatment of Igbos by the Federal Government. “People do not just start agitating just for agitation’s sake. Something serious must have led to the agitation,” COSEYL emphasized.
In conclusion, COSEYL called upon President Tinubu to urgently facilitate the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, stating, “What is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. The people of South East are earnestly waiting to receive their son Nnamdi Kanu in their arms. His release is paramount to restoring the peace and security which has eluded the South East zone for so many years.”
It is noteworthy that Nnamdi Kanu was apprehended in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria in June 2021, and has remained in custody at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) despite court orders for his unconditional release. Conversely, Sunday Igboho was arrested in Niger Republic in July while attempting to flee to Germany after his home in Ibadan was raided by DSS personnel.
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