The lawmaker representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Abia State, Mr Obi Aguocha, has sought the intervention of former President Muhammadu Buhari in securing the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mr Nnamdi Kanu.
The lawmaker visited the former President in his Daura country home on Saturday as part of efforts to commence a dialogue to open up a political solution to the continued detention of the IPOB leader.
Recall that Kanu was arrested and repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya in July 2021, after he fled the country in the wake of the military raid on his home during the tenure of President Buhari.
He has remained in detention since then, facing many charges, including treason.
A statement issued on Sunday by Aguocha’s media team quoted the federal lawmaker as telling Mr Buhari, “For the missteps, utterances, and ill gestures of the past, especially on the part of my constituent and brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, I am deeply sorry.”
Aguocha further expressed his belief that a political resolution would not only address the grievances of parties on all sides but promote greater understanding and unity within the country.
The statement also quoted the former President as commending the lawmaker for his humility and dedication to the cause of his people and assuring him that his approach was welcomed.
Recall that Aguocha recently led 50 members of the House of Representatives drawn from across the six geo-political zones to sign a letter appealing to President Bola Tinubu, to direct the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, Lateef Fegbemi, to invoke section 174(1)(c) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic as amended and section 107 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, in setting the pathway to reaching the desired outcome.
“This meeting (with Buhari) is part of a broad-based initiative aimed at securing a speedy political resolution of the issues surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s detention and trial, and securing his subsequent release in the spirit of engendering dialogue and non-contentious approaches to resolving thorny national issues, in the understanding that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is willing, ready and able to embrace the new dynamic in joining hands across the country in building a new Nigeria where peace, equity, justice and prosperity shall reign,” the statement further read.