Democracy Day: South East monarch asks Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu

Says it's a missed moment for unity, national healing

A traditional ruler in the South East region, His Royal Majesty Eze-Igwe Williams Ezugwu — Eze Ogbozarra III of Opi Ancient Kingdom and the Eze Ka Eze I of Ideke Land, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demonstrate statesmanship by granting the immediate release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in the spirit of Democracy Day.

Eze-Igwe Ezugwu made the call on Sunday, June 15, 2025, after Nigerians commemorated Democracy Day on June 12, 2025.

He described the occasion as a “missed opportunity for national healing”.

Speaking in a press statement released from his palace in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Ezugwu called on President Tinubu to rise above political calculations.

He urged Tinubu to embrace the spirit of June 12 and extend a gesture of reconciliation to South East through the release of the detained separatist leader.

The monarch stated: “The continued incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a deep wound in the soul of the South East, and by extension, Nigeria.

“June 12 presented a historic window for President Tinubu to act as a unifying leader,” he added.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The monarch, a former Secretary General of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and former Board of Trustees member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), emphasized the symbolic power of Democracy Day.

He noted that it’s a date etched in Nigeria’s collective memory for the unity, justice, and democratic aspirations that marked the 1993 presidential election.

He stated further: ““June 12 is not just a day of speeches and parades.

“It is a day that symbolizes our yearning for freedom, justice, and inclusion.

“Releasing Kanu, whether through a presidential pardon or constitutional discretion by the Attorney-General, would have sent a resounding message of unity to the South East,” he said.

Ezugwu commended Tinubu for upholding judicial independence in the ongoing trial of Kanu.

He highlighted the accelerated pace of legal proceedings following the removal of the former trial judge.

However, he insisted that beyond legalities, the political and emotional healing of the nation remains paramount.

“Our people do not feel like part of the Nigerian project.

“They feel unheard, excluded, and targeted. Releasing Kanu would have empowered leaders of thought in the South East and undercut the influence of criminals hiding under the guise of agitation,” he added.

The monarch lamented the economic and social toll of insecurity in the region.

He pointed to closed businesses, declining human capital, and growing youth radicalization as symptoms of an unresolved national question.

He warned that conflating genuine political grievances with criminality had only deepened mistrust between the South East and the federal government.

The traditional ruler stressed further: “I do not support violence in any form, but the failure to distinguish between legitimate agitation and criminal infiltration has led us down a dangerous path.

“We have seen this pattern before. The IPOB was largely non-violent until state crackdowns escalated tensions.”

Nnamdi Kanu (middle) with his legal team, in court, September 24, 2024

Ezugwu drew parallels with previous amnesty initiatives granted to Niger Delta militants and Ogoni leaders.

He argued that a similar approach toward Kanu and other genuine political agitators would foster peace and restore confidence in Nigeria’s unity project.

“The Federal Government granted amnesty to agitators in the Niger Delta. Why is the South East different?

“Peace in our region is peace for Nigeria. A bleeding South East means a weakening Nigeria,” he pointed out.

Despite his disappointment over the missed opportunity on June 12, Eze-Igwe Ezugwu maintained that it is not too late for the President to act.

He urged Tinubu to embrace the principles that defined the June 12 struggle and apply them toward inclusive governance and reconciliation.

“Let the spirit of June 12 guide policy, not just speeches. Let it inspire decisions that restore hope and unity.

“Nigeria is at a crossroads, and we must choose the path that leads to healing,” he urged.

Concluding his address, the monarch reaffirmed his belief in the Nigerian project but insisted that equity and justice are the bedrock of a stable nation.

Background

Nnamdi Kanu has been in custody since his controversial rendition to Nigeria in 2021, facing charges related to terrorism and secessionist activities.

While the federal government has maintained its legal position, widespread calls for his release have intensified, especially from traditional rulers, political leaders, and human rights organizations in the South East and beyond.

The issue has become emblematic of broader grievances in the region, including perceived political marginalization and exclusion from national discourse.

With the 2025 Democracy Day now past, it behooves on Tinubu to heed the call for healing and reconciliation, or allow the rift between the South East and the federal center continue to widen.

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