Bianca Ojukwu calls for release of Nnamdi Kanu, knocks Igbo leaders

In light of a court ruling that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu be set free, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, wife of late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, has emphasised the necessity for his release.

In her keynote speech at AVID (American Veterans of Igbo Descent) Annual National Conference and Convention in Dallas, Texas, USA, Ojukwu made the call.

AVID is a congregation of American citizens, both men and women of Igbo extraction who are currently serving military officers and veterans that served honourably in various branches of the United States Military at different times, different conflicts and different theatres of war.

Ojukwu maintained that “it is only when the leaders in Igboland rise up, jettison their perceived conspiracy of silence and confront the truth will there be the slightest possibility of healing and recovery from the unfortunate condition which Igboland currently finds itself in”.

According to her, the onerous task of confronting the Leviathan can only start when we come to terms with the fact that it is the neglect of the leadership in Igboland to effectively highlight and address the blatant marginalization of Ndigbo through the years.

Ojukwu, who is former Nigeria Ambassador to Spain, said: “This majorly created the vacuum which led to the emergence of Nnamdi Kanu, and then proceed to make the necessary amends.”

She urged the governors of the South-East to work together more closely and to keep up their increased efforts to secure Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release.

The former ambassador pointed out that the Igbo leaders’ initial disregard for Kanu’s illegal rendition and ongoing illegal detention had a significant role in escalating tensions in the South-East region even now.

“This nonchalant attitude also brought about the unforeseen consequences of opportunistic criminal elements not even remotely connected with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) coming into the picture.

“Today, they (opportunistic criminal elements) are masquerading as freedom fighters to perpetuate the most heinous crimes in South Eastern Nigeria,” she said.