South-East leaders seek Nnamdi Kanu’s release through political solution

South-East governors and regional stakeholders are actively pursuing political interventions to secure the release of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, a move aimed at restoring lasting peace and economic stability to the region.

David Umahi, Senator, Minister of Works, disclosed this during an inspection of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project in Epe, Lagos State, emphasizing that leaders are exploring all diplomatic avenues to resolve Kanu’s detention while firmly maintaining the zone’s security.

Umahi used the platform to reaffirm the region’s political alignment, declaring that Ebonyi State and the wider South-East remain fiercely loyal to President Bola Tinubu. Dismissing the influence of the opposition “Obedient Movement,” the minister stated that Ebonyi recently adopted President Tinubu, signaling a rejection of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi’s political movement.

The minister also launched a sharp critique against Obi, labeling alleged social media reports that Obi would cancel Tinubu’s legacy infrastructure projects as “painful” and “unfortunate.” Umahi challenged the public to compare Tinubu’s enduring structural legacy as governor of Lagos State against Obi’s tenure in Anambra, arguing that true leadership relies on sustainable master plans rather than political deception.

Furthermore, Umahi strongly rebuked Obi for failing to publicly condemn the violent Monday sit-at-home orders that have devastated the South-East economy and claimed numerous lives. Insisting that honesty and accountability are non-negotiable for credible leadership, Umahi concluded that massive federal initiatives, such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the River Niger corridor projects, remain vital economic catalysts that the South-East cannot afford to lose to political maneuvering.