ABUJA — In a blunt and remarkably courageous address that has sent ripples through the nation’s capital, a prominent South-East traditional ruler has demanded the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Speaking at a high-level consultative forum in Abuja on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the monarch issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu: the federal government’s refusal to obey court orders regarding Kanu is not just a legal crisis, but a “slow-burning fuse” that is turning the region’s youth against their own traditional institutions.
The “Extraordinary Rendition” Ultimatum
The monarch touched on the raw nerve of Kanu’s 2021 arrest, which international bodies have labeled an “extraordinary rendition.” His solution was as simple as it was provocative.
“Nnamdi Kanu should be released, and if he is not wanted in Nigeria, he should be returned to Kenya where he was taken from,” the monarch declared. “We cannot make progress in this country if we don’t tell ourselves the whole truth. His continued stay in a cell is a wound that refuses to heal in the East.”
The Sunday Igboho “Double Standard”
The traditional ruler pointed to what he described as a glaring “ethnic bias” in the government’s handling of regional agitators. He referenced the recent freedom and rumored plans to officially honor Yoruba nation activist Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho), whom he described as Kanu’s South-West counterpart.
“The youths in the South-East see us as sell-outs,” the monarch lamented. “When we come to Abuja, they think we come to collect money and keep quiet. How do we explain to them that one man is being honored in the West while another is being caged in the East for the same agitation?”
“Stop the Selective Justice”—Nigerians Fire Back
The monarch’s “hard truth” has ignited a firestorm of debate, with many Nigerians—particularly from the South-East and the diaspora—backing his stance against the Tinubu administration.
- “The Root of Insecurity”: Critics on social media have blasted the government, arguing that the sit-at-home orders and the rise of “unknown gunmen” are direct consequences of Kanu’s detention. “Release him and watch the violence drop. The government is using his detention as a business venture for security contracts while our people suffer,” one commentator noted.
- “A Disgraced Judiciary”: Nigerians expressed outrage that the government continues to ignore multiple court rulings that have cleared Kanu. “We call ourselves a democracy, but we treat court judgments like suggestions. It’s a national embarrassment,” an Abuja-based lawyer remarked.
- “Traditional Rulers’ Awakening”: Many praised the monarch for finally speaking up. “For too long, our kings have been silent for fear of their stools. Now that the youths are ready to stone them, they are finding their voices. This is the truth the President needs to hear,” an Aba-based trader said.
A Region on the Brink
The traditional ruler concluded by urging President Tinubu to “do something” about the IPOB leader before the 2027 election cycle makes the region completely ungovernable. He warned that traditional rulers are losing their grip on their communities because the people feel abandoned by both their local leaders and the federal government.
As of Tuesday night, the Presidency has not issued an official response to the monarch’s “Return to Kenya” demand. However, with the South-East economy bleeding billions due to security lockdowns, the pressure for a political solution has never been higher.
