Minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), should not be used as a bargaining tool for the South-East’s political support of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Friday, Umahi clarified that President Tinubu bears no responsibility for Kanu’s continued detention. He emphasized that discussions around Kanu’s release should be handled through constructive dialogue, not political blackmail or pressure.
“Someone asked me about Nnamdi Kanu, and I said his case should not be a precondition for the South-East to support the President,” Umahi said. “We’re open to negotiating his release, but no one should make it a political demand. The President did not detain him.”
Kanu has been in custody since June 2020, following his extradition from Kenya. He faces a seven-count charge related to treasonable felony brought by the federal government. Over the years, numerous civil society groups and political leaders have called for his release, citing concerns over human rights and calls for national reconciliation.
Umahi urged that such appeals be made responsibly, avoiding inflammatory rhetoric. “President Tinubu may not be perfect, but he is making significant progress. Look at the state of the economy when he took over. The international community now has renewed confidence in Nigeria because of his reforms. That’s why we’re getting support for major infrastructure projects,” he noted.
He also pushed back against claims that the Tinubu administration has marginalized the South-East in terms of federal appointments and development initiatives. “Those criticising the President should first show what they themselves have contributed to the country,” Umahi added.
