Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he never discussed the release of the leader of the banned Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, with South East governors in Enugu on Tuesday.
Obasanjo, in a statement issued by his special assistant on media Kehinde Akinyemi in Abeokuta, Ogun State, contrary to media reports, Obasanjo and Emeka Anyaoku, a former Commonwealth secretary-general, met with the governors on their invitation to discuss regional development issues.
Akinyemi said the purported release of Kanu by the federal government was not part of it.
He said the regional development issues discussed include security, infrastructure, and economic and cooperative collaboration.
“The meeting with them was at my invitation and of Anyaoku before their summit began.
“The issue of Nnamdi Kanu was not on the agenda and was not discussed in my presence,” the statement quoted Mr Obasanjo.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State had posted a message on X at the end of the South-East Governors’ meeting on Tuesday, which some interpreted to mean that Obasanjo joined in deciding to engage the federal government over Kanu’s case.
According to Premium Times, Mr Otti’s post reads, “We have just concluded the South East Governors’ Forum meeting in Enugu, where we deliberated on critical issues affecting our region. After thorough discussions with fellow Governors and stakeholders, the following resolutions were reached:
“The Forum commiserated with the Government and people of Abia State, Ebonyi State, Imo State, and the entire South East and Nigeria, along with the Onu Family, on the passing of His Excellency, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.
“The Forum welcomed a distinguished delegation including former President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, Chief Emeka Anyaoku GCON, and His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe CFR, the Obi of Onitsha, who visited in solidarity.
“We reviewed the report from the South East Security and Economic Summit held in Owerri on September 28, 2023. The Forum agreed to implement key security and economic integration recommendations, reaffirming our commitment to actionable plans on these critical issues.
“The forum resolved to visit Mr. President to discuss pressing concerns affecting the South East Region.
“Additionally, we resolved to engage with the federal government to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”