In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze said releasing Kanu would be the “best Christmas gift” to the Southeast and would help create a serene and peaceful atmosphere for the festive season.
“Kanu’s release would be a major step in de-escalating the tension in the Southeast and would demonstrate the government’s commitment to peace and dialogue,” the statement said.
The group also urged the government to address the underlying grievances of the people of the Southeast, which they said were the root cause of the Biafra agitation.
“We believe that a political solution to is the only way to achieve lasting peace in the region,” the statement said.
Kanu has been detained by the Nigerian government since 2015 on charges of treason and terrorism. He is currently facing trial in Abuja.
His detention has been a major source of tension in the Southeast, with IPOB calling for his release and the secession of Biafra from Nigeria.
The Nigerian government has said that Kanu will not be released until he has been tried and convicted.
The call by Ohanaeze for Kanu’s release comes amid growing pressure on the government to address the issue of his detention.
In October, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that Kanu’s detention was arbitrary and called for his immediate release.
The Nigerian government has rejected the UN’s ruling, saying that it will not interfere in the country’s judicial process.
