…We need Kanu around discussion table for conversation on security, future of South-East, says Anambra Gov
In what can be described as unprecedented action from an elected state governor and a move to address the rising insecurity in the South East, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to release the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, without any condition, saying that if his request is not feasible in view of the pending court case, he is ready to stand as surety for the IPOB leader.
Soludo canvassed the options during the kick-off of the campaign of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Awka , the state capital, on Saturday.
The Anambra Governor specifically appealed to the Federal Government to release Kanu unconditionally and without any further delay.
Speaking to the mammoth crowd of party faithful at the event, Soludo said, “I am making a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally. If he cannot be released unconditionally, I want him released to me and I will stand surety for him.
“We need Nnamdi Kanu in the roundtable conversation to discuss the insecurity in the South-East. We must end insecurity in the South East and we need Nonacid Kanu to be around.”
Soludo also promised to cater to Kanu and also offered to bring him to the authorities any time he was required.
According to Soludo, Kanu could not be in prison custody while the issues of insecurity are being discussed in the entire South-East.
He said, “We need him around the discussion table, we need him to discuss about the future of the South-East. If the Federal Government cannot release him unconditionally, I now offer myself to ask the Federal Government to release him to me.
“I will provide him anytime he is needed. I will house him here in Awka. We need him released to end insecurity in the South-East. We need him to have true conversation about Nigeria. We believe in Nigeria and we are Nigerians.
“We, some time ago set up the Truth and Reconciliation Committee to find out the root cause of insecurity in the South-East and they have almost concluded their assignment.
“But this issue of insecurity cannot be well addressed without bringing to the table the key players in this matter.
“We have applied the kinetic and non-kinetic approach to fighting insecurity in the South East but the non-kinetic approach cannot be complete without the Federal Government releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We must bring him to the table because we need him to be part of this process and I call on the Federal Government to release him to me and for us to have a comprehensive discussion for the fate of the South East.
“If we cannot release him based on the court process, I here by offer myself as the surety for his release and whenever you want him, I will hand him over to you.
“We shall provide him shelter and give him home and we make this plea in the true belief in the spirit of peace in the South East.”
Soludo further described APGA as the first registered political party in Nigeria with the name progressives.,
He said, “Anambra is the home of APGA and the home of progressives and we call on Nigerians to vote APGA all the way.
“We are progressives and that is why we allowed other political parties and their candidates to come here to campaign because the state believe in a level playing ground for all and sundry to campaign which some people while they were here did not do.”
The presidential candidate of APGA, Justice Peter Umeadi (rtd), described himself as the most qualified candidate to lead the country, saying that his administration as President would unify the country.
Umeadi further disclosed that he was the most transparent person among the candidates contesting for the post of the president of the country.
He added that since he became the APGA’s candidate in June last year, he had traversed the length and breadth of Nigeria canvassing for votes.
He assured Nigerians that he had a realistic manifesto that will address true federalism, agricultural revolution, education, sports and culture, healthcare delivery, knowledge-economy, human security, transport and communication, women, youth, children and disabled, environmental impact assessment and census in Nigeria.
In his own comment at the event, former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano described APGA as the party to beat, saying that the party would sweep the presidential poll on February 25.
“We have had 21 over 21 and we have had 19 over 21 and this time, it is going to be 21 over 21,” he added.
At the rally, the party handed over the flags of the party to the governorship candidates of the party in Delta, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Adamawa and Abia states as well as the state and National Assembly candidates of the party.
