The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra has demanded the immediate release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
This is as the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), begins a two-day visit to Ebonyi State, on Thursday.
The group equally called for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2023.
MASSOB’s demands were contained in a statement by its leader, Uchenna Madu, on Wednesday.
The PUNCH reports that Kanu was arrested in 2021 and charged to court on allegations of terrorism and treasonable felony. He has denied the charges.
MASSOB and IPOB are seeking the secession of Biafra from Nigeria country.
While noting that MASSOB was not against the president’s visit to the region, it said Nnamdi Kanu’s release would douse tension in the region.
It said, “As President Muhammadu Buhari visits Ebonyi State, MASSOB reminds Mr President that only the release of IPOB leader will douse tension in the zone as well as restore a peaceful atmosphere to the entire country.
“MASSOB also reminds President Muhammadu Buhari that the continuous detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in DSS custody will only worsen the security challenges facing the country, it will also continue to affect the economy.”
Madu further said a president of Igbo extraction to succeed Buhari would help to ‘diffuse’ already bottled anger which is fuelling the agitations across the region.
“MASSOB will not be against the visit of President Buhari to Ebonyi State. We are making these two major demands as part of our contributions to peace as being clamoured by well-meaning citizens.
“MASSOB requests President Muhammadu Buhari to facilitate and ensure that one of the many South-East presidential aspirants succeeds him in 2023 to help the country diffuse many bottled up anger which has fuelled agitations,” the statement added.
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