The Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Describing Kanu as a political detainee, Afenifere said the continued detention is unjustifiable, calling on the President to take prompt action.
The association made this call in a communiqué signed by its deputy leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, after a meeting held at the Isanya Ogbo residence of its leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
“From all circumstances, particularly since his abduction in 2021 and rendition to Nigeria and since then subjected to controversial and conflicting legal proceedings in different courts by which his fair trial may no longer be guaranteed in the opinion of reasonable members of the public, it is clear that Nnamdi Kanu is indubitably a political detainee.
“In the interest of justice and national reconciliation, Afenifere urges President Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu forthwith. There is no justifiable reason to continue to keep him in detention without trial,” the communiqué read.
The group also announced the appointment of Barr Dele Farotimi, as its new National Organising Secretary.
The communiqué also saw the group lament that the state of insecurity remained as sire as it was under the previous administration.
Consequently, the group called on the President to take bold, positive and ideological steps to ensure genuine protection of lives and property.
Pointing to the recent alarm of bandits’ influx by Governor Seyi Makinde, the Afenifere reiterated its demand for restructuring.
“Nigeria, with its vast territory, population and as a federation, cannot be effectively and meaningfully secured with a single command unitary police structure, thus the need for the restructuring to ensure immediate constitutional institutionalization of state police,” the communiqué read.
In attendance at the meeting presided over by the Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan were delegates from the six South West, Kogi and Kwara states including the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele; Secretary General, Chief Sola Ebiseni; Chief Akin Osuntokun; Professor Akin Onigbinde; Elder Tola Mobolurin; Dr Gbola Adetuji; Olorogun Pop Ayo-Banjo and the National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye.
