Human rights lawyer and political activist, Deji Adeyanju, has expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu will release Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Adeyanju alleged that some political figures from the South East are secretly working against Kanu’s release.
However, he insisted that he remains confident that the current administration would do what is right.
Tinubu will act differently — Adeyanju
Adeyanju argued that the charges against Nnamdi Kanu should have been dropped as soon as President Tinubu assumed office.
He maintained that the previous administration, led by former President Muhammadu Buhari, mishandled the issue and worsened the situation in the South East.
He wrote: “I am confident President Tinubu will pardon Nnamdi Kanu despite the secret plots by some South East leaders to ensure he is not released. The charge against him ought to have been discontinued immediately Tinubu was sworn in.”
Adeyanju also accused former President Buhari of promoting division through his handling of the IPOB leader’s case.
He stated: “Late Buhari was a hater of Igbos and to blame for turning Kanu into a demigod the way he handled the whole issue.”
Calls for political solution grow
Adeyanju’s comments come amid renewed calls for a political solution to Kanu’s detention.
Several Igbo leaders, traditional rulers, and human rights groups have urged the Federal Government to consider his release as a step toward peace and stability in the South East region.
The IPOB leader has been in detention since his rearrest in 2021 and is facing terrorism-related charges. His continued detention has drawn both local and international criticism, with growing appeals for dialogue and reconciliation.