Igbo Clerics Accuse South-East Governors of Insincerity Over Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

An association of Igbo clergymen, the Concerned Igbo Ministers Commission (CIMC), has accused governors of the South-East states, with the exception of Abia State Governor Alex Otti, of lacking sincerity in their pledge to work for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The clerics made the allegation in a statement issued on Monday, following what they described as the continued inaction of most South-East governors after promising to engage President Bola Tinubu on a political solution to Kanu’s detention.

InfoStride News recalls that shortly after Kanu was convicted on November 20, 2025, the South-East governors vowed to meet the President to seek his freedom. Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment by an Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Justice James Omotosho and is currently serving the sentence at the Sokoto Custodial Centre.

So far, only Governor Otti has met President Tinubu over the matter, following his visit to Kanu at the Sokoto prison.

In the statement titled “Igbo governors and the betrayal of Nnamdi Kanu,” and signed by its President, Rev. Tony Uzor, the CIMC expressed disappointment over what it termed the silence and failure of other South-East governors to act on their promise.

“After the conviction judgment delivered by Justice Omotosho, Igbo governors promised our people that they would urgently meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to seek a political and humane solution to this matter. Till today, only one governor has kept that promise — Governor Alex Otti of Abia State,” the statement read.

According to the group, the continued delay shows that many of the governors are not sincere about Kanu’s release.

“This is no longer a matter of delay or logistics. It is now clear that many of these politicians are not sincere. Their repeated promises have turned into empty words,” the clerics said.

The group further alleged that most Igbo governors are afraid of Kanu and uncomfortable with the prospect of his freedom, claiming that his release would expose years of alleged betrayal and silence by political leaders in the region.

The clerics also insisted that Kanu had no role in the weekly Monday sit-at-home observed in parts of the South-East, noting that he had repeatedly called for an end to the action and violence associated with it.

They urged South-East governors to stop what they described as deception and either act decisively to secure Kanu’s release or be honest with the people.

 

The CIMC also appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and bring what it called “this injustice” to an end, stressing that Kanu’s case goes beyond one individual and touches on justice, dignity and the future of the Igbo people.