EKO HOT BLOG reports that in anticipation of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s upcoming inauguration as President of Nigeria on May 29, 2023, Princewil Richard Chimezie, the leader of the Biafra National League (BnL), has urged him to take significant steps in bridging the divide between two of the country’s major ethnic groups, the Igbos and Yorubas.
Chimezie highlighted the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has remained in detention despite court rulings in favor of his freedom, as a crucial measure to foster unity between the two tribes.
During an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Friday morning, the 30-year-old son of the late Eze Richard O Ekegbu, Eze Ndigbo of Obigbo, emphasized the significance of Kanu’s liberation in promoting reconciliation.
The BnL leader argued that the controversy surrounding Kanu’s election and subsequent events had deepened the existing level of distrust between the Igbos and Yorubas.
“To bridge the gap between Igbos and Yorubas, the incoming President should ensure the release of Nnamdi Kanu,” Chimezie asserted.
Regarding the 14-day ultimatum issued by his group to the federal government, which expired the previous week, Chimezie maintained their stance, stating, “We are not retracting that statement. However, I am not aware of the plans of the boys.”
When asked to clarify who the boys referred to, he explained that he maintained control over his own group, primarily located in the fringes of the Bakassi Peninsula, and that they were not affiliated with the broader Biafra sovereignty movement.
“I have authority over my members, not the followers of the agitation,” he clarified.
Chimezie, who joined the Biafra struggle in 2012, has faced multiple arrests and detentions by security agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS), Operation Delta Safe, and the Nigeria Police Force.
However, he expressed his gratitude to Sir Solomon, the former Deputy Director of the DSS in Cross River State, for his unexpected birthday call and for supporting him during previous arrests.
“Let me take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the first person who surprised me with a call yesterday morning to wish me a happy birthday, the man who has aided my release on two occasions when I was detained in the Bakassi Peninsula, Sir Solomon, the former Deputy Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Cross River State command. I never expected the call,” Chimezie expressed gratefully.
As President-elect Tinubu prepares to assume office, the call for unity and reconciliation between the Igbos and Yorubas gains prominence, with the release of Nnamdi Kanu seen as a pivotal step toward fostering understanding and trust between the two ethnic groups.
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