The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdurosheed Akanbi, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to grant the detained leader of the Biafra separatist movement, Nnamdi Kanu, presidential amnesty to promote national healing and deepen unity.
The monarch made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Ibrahim Alli, where he described the lingering resentment among some members of the Igbo community following the Nigerian Civil War as a form of post-traumatic stress that requires deliberate healing.
While commending Tinubu for what he described as an inclusive administration, Oba Akanbi urged the President to take further steps towards reconciliation by considering Kanu’s release.
He said, “…-war frustration being nursed by Igbos cannot be easily healed. While I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reintegration process as unprecedented, I call for further historical steps such as granting a presidential amnesty to the incarcerated leader of the Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
“A panel can be set to address the healing of the Igbos. The healing of the Igbos is a healing to Nigeria as a nation. Till date, the Igbos has animosity against the Yorubas because of Awolowo’s role in the civil war.”
The monarch likened the lingering effects of the civil war to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, noting that many people who experienced wars around the world continued to suffer psychological consequences long after the conflicts ended.
He added that the estimated loss of millions of lives during the Nigerian Civil War had left deep wounds that could only be addressed through reconciliation and dialogue.
“I acknowledged the magnitude of Kanu’s excess that warranted his imprisonment. I appeal to the president to consider the identity of his tribe, not an individual,” he said.
Oba Akanbi said Kanu could be cautioned and counselled before his release, expressing hope that he would abandon violence and become an advocate for peace among his people.
He stressed that his appeal was not a call for protest but an effort to encourage the Federal Government to take steps that could promote national reconciliation.
“I am not calling people for protest but making an holistic appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to honour the tribe by releasing Nnamdi Kanu. I express hope that the step, if respected, will further cement the unity and unison of Nigeria as a united nation.
“There must be love for one another in this country. Nigeria is divided along tribal attachment because of the past experience. We must stop nursing old wounds. The time is ripe to heal the wound,” the monarch said.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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