The Southeast caucus in the House of Representatives has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate respect for the rule of law by ensuring the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, following an Appeal Court ruling.
The caucus made the call in a statement released on Tuesday entitled: ‘Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial: Time to win peace,’ signed by 43 lawmakers from Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra States respectively.
It also urged the federal government to find a political solution to the Nnamdi Kanu matter.
The lawmakers noted that the decision of the Court of Appeal provided a window of opportunity that the government could exploit to solve Nnamdi Kanu’s question, find lasting peace and normalcy in the Southeast region, and stimulate national unity, healing and solidarity.
“It is a fact that the country is presently contending with terrorism in the North East; terrorism and banditry in the North West; farmers-headers clashes and banditry in the North Central; abductions and armed attacks in the South West; restiveness and attacks by unknown gunmen in the Southeast, and abductions, cult wars, vandalisation of oil installations and oil theft in the South South region”, the statement read.
The caucus made a special appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to take a fatherly introspection on the issue and toe the path of negotiated solution with guarantees on both sides.
”we trust that Mr. President will not allow this veritable opportunity to win peace and write his name in gold pass by,” the Caucus urged.
According to the statement, the nation cannot enjoy organic peace so long as any part is troubled, saying experiences and realities as a nation have shown that times like this requires not only kinetic options, but also non-kinetic approaches.
Writing by Ibrahim Shehu; Editing by Annabel Nwachukwu