The Indigenous People of Biafra has asked the leaders in the South-East to stop begging President Bola Tinubu for the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, but rather should demand his unconditional release.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, the IPOB Spokesman, Emma Powerful, berated Jude Idimogu for asking the President to release Kanu as a political favour to boost the chances of the All Progressives Congress’s 2027 fortunes and revive the South-East economy, adding that it reeks of self-serving opportunism and betrayal.

The statement read in part, “The IPOB, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, categorically rejects and condemns the shameful spectacle of Igbo figures, including the likes of Jude Idimogu, grovelling before President Bola Tinubu with pleas and beggarly appeals for our leader’s ‘pardon'” or “release.

The group stated that Nnamdi Kanu is not a crim!nal and so South East Leaders should not be begging for his pardon. They further stated that begging Tinubu reinforces dictatorship and autocracy.

“Let us be unequivocally clear: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not a criminal in need of pardon. He is a prisoner of conscience, unlawfully abducted from Kenya on June 27, 2021"

“Begging Tinubu reinforces dictatorship and autocracy, portraying Nigeria as a lawless fiefdom where executive whims trump judicial finality. It signals weakness to our oppressors, implying Kanu is guilty when the law has exonerated him"