Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to free the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Mr Soludo said the demand for the release of Mr Kanu followed the incessant killings and kidnappings that continue to pervade the South-East region.

“I now want to appeal and plead and request and demand of the Federal Government and our able president led by President Buhari that a critical person [is] required around that table for that conversation to be complete for us to have an all-round approach to dealing with the issue of insecurity and discussing the future of the South-East.

“That person – and we need him urgently around the table, please release him to us – and that is Nnamdi Kanu. I’m calling on the Federal Government to please release Nnamdi Kanu,” Mr Soludo said on Saturday in Awka, Anambra.

Mr Kanu, who was re-arrested in June 2021 by federal government, is facing various charges including treasonable felony and terrorism, offences he allegedly committed while agitating for a Biafra Republic.

Recall that the Court of Appeal in Abuja also acquitted and discharged Mr Kanu from terrorism charges but the Buhari regime appealed the decision.

The appellate court granted the regime’s request to stop the execution of the judgment freeing the IPOB leader.

He has since been at the detention facility of the State Security Service (SSS), following continued adjournment of his trial by the Buhari-led government.

Speaking at the launch of the national campaign of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Soludo offered to serve as a “surety” for the embattled separatist leader.

The Anambra governor stated that Mr Kanu, who had been in detention of the secret police, was needed by the South-East for a conversation that would see to the prosperity and development of the region.

“No one should be left behind; everybody should be there. If we cannot release him unconditionally as requested by the court judgements and so on, I now offer to be the surety. Release him to me. I will keep him. Release Nnamdi Kanu to me,” Mr Soludo pleaded.

“I will keep him. I will provide him shelter and anytime that you need him, we will bring him to you. Give him to me, we will house him here in Awka. Let us release him and let us bring this insecurity in the South-East to an end,” the governor added.