Former President Olusegun Obasanjo clarified that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was not discussed during his recent meeting with South East governors in Enugu. He emphasized that his discussion with the governors and former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku focused on regional development issues, such as security, infrastructure, and economic growth, rather than Kanu's detention.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo reiterated that, “The regional development issues discussed include that of security and infrastructure. Others were economic and cooperative/collaboration, which was meant to complement the national economic development agenda."
He added: “The meeting with them was at my invitation and of Chief Emeka Anyaoku before their summit begins. The issue of Nnamdi Kanu was not on the agenda and was not discussed in my presence."
The meeting, held at his and Anyaoku’s invitation, was strictly about regional development. He stressed that the discussions aimed to complement national efforts in fostering economic and infrastructural progress in the South East.
According to PUNCH NEWS the South-East Governors Forum resolved to engage with President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to discuss securing Nnamdi Kanu's release. This decision was made during their six-hour meeting in Enugu, which included all five South East governors: Peter Mbah (Enugu), Alex Otti (Abia), Prof. Charles Soludo (Anambra), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), and Senator Hope Uzodimma (Imo).
In a joint five-point communique, the governors outlined plans to implement recommendations from the South-East Security and Economic Summit held in Owerri the previous year. The communique noted their resolution to visit President Tinubu to discuss pressing regional issues and to secure Kanu's release. Additionally, the forum expressed condolences over the passing of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the former Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, and the first civilian governor of Abia State.