Release Kanu through legal means, Northern group tells Buhari

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reaffirm his statesmanship and refuse to be cajoled into interfering with the principle of separation of powers and independence of the judiciary.

It urged the president to explore legal means to release the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who is being detained and tried for treason.

Spokesman of the group, AbdulAzeez Sulaiman, who stated this at a media briefing in Kano, yesterday, expressed concern over what he described as “the desperation of some Igbo leaders” to truncate Nnamdi Kanu’s trial, saying the development was unfortunate and unacceptable.

He said Igbo leaders’ demand to release Kanu and Buhari’s pledge to consider their plea had vindicated the group’s earlier position that IPOB had been enjoying the support of some Igbo leaders.

“The level of desperation to abort Kanu’s trial for masterminding violence through his separatist agitation reached its peak with a recent visit of some respected Igbo leaders, led by first republic minister, Mbazulike Amaechi to President Buhari to ask for Kanu’s release.

“The demand and Buhari’s promise to consider their request represent nothing but a grand conspiracy to condone and impose mayhem on the Nigerian state,” he said.

Sulaiman lamented that President Buhari’s body language towards acceding to the demand for Kanu’s release must uphold the universal principles of separation of powers between the executive and judiciary, by allowing the law to take its course.

He further argued that if the Federal Government failed to punish Kanu, the country would be reduced to a lawless state, where criminals could commit all sorts of crimes relentlessly.

“Any group or individual involved in this complicity to release Kanu through subversion of the course of justice should be considered an accomplice and sponsors of the atrocities and crimes committed by IPOB,” he added.

Sulaiman maintained that the North would no longer remain idle when its people were being targeted, while perpetrators of crimes were being shielded by tribal bigots, who parade themselves as leaders of the country.