He stressed that with diplomacy, a solution will be finalised.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has welcomed the recent call by about 50 members of the House of Representatives for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Kalu Nnamdi.
The federal lawmakers reportedly led by the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia South and North Federal Constituency of Abia State, led by Hon. Obi Aguocha, on Monday wrote an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appealing for the release of Kanu by invoking section 174 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) and section 107(1) of administration of criminal justice Act, 2015.
In a statement signed by the media aide to the deputy speaker on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Kalu applauded the lawmakers from the 6 geopolitical zones of the country and their political parties for throwing their weight behind him in appealing for Kanu’s freedom.
According to the deputy speaker, there are expectations that the south east caucus will also arise in unison soon to support the effort.
Recalling the impact of Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), a social advocacy group he founded that promotes the idea of a non kinetic approach in resolving the security challenges and other sociological issues in the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, Kalu said that the release of the IPoB leader was very crucial to the restoration of peace in the zone.
He said that a milestone has been recorded in his private engagements with the authorities on achieving a political solution in Kanu’s case.
The deputy speaker recalled that Hon. Aguocha accompanied him in one of those engagements with the decision makers in the country on the issue.
Kalu however, stated clearly that such high profile security issues are not products of advertisement in the media hence the need to keep them confidential in order not to jeopardise the gains so far made.
The deputy speaker, who also revealed that he has met with Kanu a couple of times in the Department of State Service (DSS) detention facility, said that hopes are high that the IPoB leader will soon regain his freedom.
“In (his) last visit two weeks before the court appearance, Kalu had discussed and obtained a firm assurance on the side of the IPoB leader on the need for sustainable peace in the region,” the statement disclosed.
It added, “Notedly, that agreement has since been communicated to the delight of the authorities and Kanu’s younger brother as his family’s representative.
“While thanking the lawmakers for their support, Kalu who also represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State appealed to Ndi Igbo to remain calm and hopeful and avoid provocative comments on this issue in the light of the truism that the government of the day cannot be compelled either covertly or overtly.
“He stressed that with diplomacy, a solution will be finalised.
“Kalu also warned against making merchandise of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration for selfish economic gain which runs at variance with his wish, emphasising that the IPoB leader should not be used as a political tool for any political capital.
“He urged all those genuinely supporting the advocacy for his freedom to go about it dispassionately with the face of humanity and for not personal interest so that the work quietly done on it so far will not be a waste.”