The Paramount Ruler of Iwoland, HIM Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant the leader of Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, a presidential pardon.
Oluwo, who equally begged for the loss the Igbos suffered in the civil war resulting in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, explained the need for amnesty for Nnamdi Kanu to fully reintegrate his tribe into national discourse.
Oluwo related PTSD to a time bomb for victims of war walking the streets without proper reintegration. He explained that PTSD victims are also among our soldiers who have fought wars. He stressed that Nnamdi Kanu can be one of the victims as well.
Oba Akanbi commended Tinubu for running an all-inclusive government devoid of tribal discrimination, noting that granting Nnamdi Kanu a presidential pardon will further entrench him as a detribalized President.
Oluwo confirmed the post civil war frustration on Igbos as a difficult wound to heal, and acknowledged President Tinubu’s commitment to completely heal the damage incurred by the war, asking the current administrator to release Nnamdi Kanu as one of the steps to completely reintegrate the victims of the war.
He stated the presidential pardon should be discharged in honour of the Igbo tribe and not personality. He expressed hope in the step to comfort the discomforted souls and bring historical succour in the lives of the Igbos.
Many Igbos who were victims of the civil war have seen their nation, Nigeria, as its own enemy.
A statement released by Oluwo and made available to newsmen through his press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, reads “The post war frustration being nursed by Igbos cannot be easily healed. While I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reintegration process as unprecedented, I call for further historical steps such as granting a presidential amnesty to the incarcerated leader of the Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
“A panel can be set to address the healing of the Igbos. The healing of the Igbos is a healing to Nigeria as a nation. Till date, the Igbos has animosity against the Yorubas because of Awolowo’s role in the civil war. Post Trauma Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a very dangerous disorder everywhere wars have ravaged. The imprisoned Kanu may also be suffering from PTSD. About 3m of Igbos died in the civil war. Some of them still see their nation as their own enemy. Many Igbos are still bittered because one of their leaders is rotting in prison.
There are many cases of PTSD amongs the Iranians, Afghanistans, Americans and Iraqis. Many of those who suffered the war were still suffering from PTSD till date. I acknowledged the magnitude of Kanu’s excess that warranted his imprisonment. I appeal to the president to consider the identity of his tribe not an individual”
“Nnamdi Kanu only needs to be cautioned and counselled before he can be released because of his temperament. I am hopeful he will turn a new leaf and be counsellor to his tribemens toeing the line of violence ”
“Oluwo is not calling people for protest but making an holistic appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to honour the tribe by releassing Nnamdi Kanu. I express hope that the step, if respected, will further cement the unity and unison of Nigeria as a united nation. There must be love for one another in this country. Nigeria is divided along tribal attachment because of the past experience. We must stop nursing old wounds. The time is ripe to heal the wound”
