Jidechukwu Iwuanyanwu, the first son of the late former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has made a heartfelt appeal to the federal government, urging them to honour his father’s last wish by granting freedom to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement released on the 9th of February, 2025 in Owerri, Jidechukwu called on President Bola Tinubu to resolve the matter through a political solution, emphasizing the urgency of his father’s unfulfilled desire.
Recounting his father’s final days, he revealed that Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s last major public outing was to the DSS facility to visit Nnamdi Kanu.
Despite his frail health, the elder statesman was denied the privilege of driving in and had to endure a 20-minute walk to meet the detained IPOB leader.
The statement reads: “Undeterred, my father sojourned on to see Kanu and had a father-son moment with him. However, this visit took a toll on his health. Upon returning home, he complained of heart discomfort and retired to his room for rest.
“The next morning, he broke down and was rushed to the hospital. He remained there until his passing. Even in his final moments, he continued fighting for Kanu’s release and the establishment of the South East Development Commission for the progress of Ala Igbo,” Jidechukwu recounted.
He expressed confidence that if his father were alive, he would have been overjoyed to witness one of his deepest wishes come true.
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“My father was a man of peace, a true son of Ndigbo, and a patriot who loved Nigeria at large. The release of Nnamdi Kanu will not only fulfil his dying wish but will also restore peace and end the Monday sit-at-home protests that have crippled the South East,” he stated.
With Mazi Nnamdi Kanu appearing in court today, Jidechukwu seized the moment to renew his appeal to the federal government.
“I urge the authorities not to let my father’s death be in vain. Honour his legacy by releasing Mazi Kanu, for it is a step toward peace, unity, and justice for Ndigbo and Nigeria as a whole,” he pleaded.