Human Rights Activist, Omoyele Sowore

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has revealed that former President Goodluck Jonathan has agreed to engage President Bola Tinubu on the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Sowore disclosed this on Friday in a post via his X handle following a meeting with Jonathan in Abuja.

According to him, their discussion centred on the “urgent and compelling need” to address Kanu’s prolonged detention “decisively and justly.”

“Earlier today in Abuja, I met with former President Goodluck Jonathan to discuss the continued incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” Sowore wrote.
“President Jonathan agreed that there is an urgent and compelling need to address this matter decisively and justly. I thank him sincerely for recognising the importance of resolving Kanu’s case in the interest of peace, fairness, and national healing.
“Particularly assuring was that he promised to meet President Bola Tinubu to discuss this issue as soon as possible.”

Sowore added that Jonathan’s intervention places him among a growing list of prominent Nigerians calling for justice in Kanu’s case, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), and Senator Shehu Sani.

He reiterated his call for Kanu’s release, describing the IPOB leader’s detention as unjustified.

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains in detention today because he took up the just cause of confronting the long-standing issue of marginalisation in Nigeria,” Sowore stated.

The activist also urged other political, cultural, and religious leaders — including Peter Obi, Charles Soludo, Alex Otti, Francis Nwifuru, Peter Mbah, Hope Uzodinma, Oby Ezekwesili, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s John Mbata — to join the campaign for Kanu’s release.

Kanu has been in custody since 2021, following his re-arrest abroad and extradition to Nigeria to face trial on charges bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony. Several court rulings ordering his release or granting him bail have yet to be implemented by the federal authorities.