South-East leader makes fresh case for Kanu’s release

…debunks existence of unified Traditional Rulers’ Council in Southern Nigeria

Lawrence Agubuzu, the Traditional ruler of Olo Kingdom, Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom, on Tuesday, urged President Bola Tinubu to revisit the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, to enable his release.

The traditional ruler, who was speaking at the Healthcare Summit organised by the Federal Government at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said he is always pained each time he remembers that Nnamdi Kanu is in Sokoto Prison.

The traditional ruler, who commended the Federal Government for bringing the entire traditional rulers together, assured the Government of support for the healthcare programme.

Read also: Nnamdi Kanu orders IPOB to end Monday sit-at-home

“We have come to Abuja today, and we’ve seen the crowd. The only thing I can remember like this is when President Jonathan was president of Nigeria”, he said.

He recalled how the former President had organised the 2014 National Conference, adding that” the venues used to be full like this—but this one is fuller

“First, we’ve been committed to the health of our people. But having come now to Abuja and listened to Professor Mohamed Patel and his team, we are now even more committed. So, the traditional rulers of Nigeria will now go home and work harder than before.”

But speaking on unity amongst the traditional rulers, the traditional ruler said, ” I must tell you, Mr. President, that personally, I don’t feel very happy because you were not here in the morning. There were several speeches, and we listened carefully. I listened to the opening address by His Imperial Majesty, and he was asking all of us to work as a family, to work as a team, and to see Nigeria as one.

“This is good. But when you look at it, this same Imperial Majesty is arranging to confer a very high honor on Sunday Igboho—who, in my own part of Nigeria and the Southeast, we see as a counterpart of Nnamdi Kanu.

“Oh, my brother, fellow royal father, the Imperial Majesty does not seem to understand the pain in my heart when Nnamdi Kanu is in Sokoto. So sad—the ball stops in your court. Bring this man out. If we don’t want him in Nigeria, return him to Kenya or London, where they took him from.

“You see, some of us here are being asked to go and work, but the young people in the Southeast are so agitated they can even beat us.They see us as sellouts. We come to Abuja—they may think we’ve come to collect money and then keep quiet. So sad. Please do something about this.

“We cannot make progress in this country if we don’t tell ourselves the truth. There’s no way. Now, again, they were talking about the Southern Traditional Rulers Committee on Health, and the eminent Professor Patel was saying that this will become an annual event—what we are doing today—if I heard him correctly.”

Besides, he debunked the existence of a Southern Traditional Council, saying: “The truth of the matter is that there is nothing like a Southern Traditional Rulers Council.

“If you come here and give money to people on that basis, it is not correct. The South is not the North. We have our system. We need unity in diversity. So, if you want to deal with us, deal with us in the Southeast. If you have resources for us, give it to us.

“Don’t give it to people who come and say they represent a traditional rulers council. Democracy is representative government, and anybody who goes to present himself without his people is not democratic or traditional. So, get it right. We will do our best.

“Mr. President, you all—please listen to our cries. All of us.”

His position was however countered by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, who noted that they had never experienced such a Summit to bring faith leaders and traditional leaders from all walks of Nigeria together to address the Country’s health issues.

Read also: Nnamdi Kanu challenges life sentence, heads to Appeal Court over “unfair trial”

“We are the curators for our people, and it’s very important now for us to collaborate and complement our political leaders. It’s never been done before in Nigeria—it’s a very vast summit—and the takeaway is the need to partner with political leaders and institutions to get the best for our citizenry.

“For us, we the Southern Traditional Rulers, have come together to continue to support the belief. We have issued our commitment to the President and the Ministry of Health in terms of the good things we have achieved today, and for us, we stand as one.

“The Southern Traditional Rulers Council is very optional. You don’t need to join us if you don’t want to, but it is a force—a formidable force—among traditional institutions for us to come together. We are all reputable in our domains. You can see all of us made speeches.

“We don’t want any impression that there’s division. We don’t want to take out the Southeast. We have Israel here—he is one of our very prominent traditional rulers in the Southeast. We have a lot of Southeast traditional rulers working together for the betterment of the country.

“So, for us, it is something key to let the whole world know that if you don’t want to be part of us, you can opt your suggestion out. And please, we implore each and every one of us to focus more on news that is of quality, not social media and rumors. This is one of the real things affecting our country”, Ooni of Ife said.

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