Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has restated his belief that the detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, can only be resolved through a political process.

Speaking during a state-wide broadcast on Tuesday following his public defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mbah said his position on the incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu has remained consistent since he assumed office.

He said. “It took barely a week after I assumed office that I had a meeting with the President, and I was very specific when I came out to address the press that I also raised the issue of Nnamdi Kanu with the President.”

Governor Mbah explained that he had always believed that resolving the matter politically remained the most sustainable approach.

“I believe strongly that the Nnamdi Kanu problem is going to be solved politically,” he said. “With this now, I think it is also an opportunity for the South-East to consolidate our position and make a very strong case for this to be resolved politically.”

The Enugu governor urged stakeholders across the South-East to embrace the concept of a political resolution and to work collectively in shaping a unified position before engaging with the federal authorities.

“First of all, we need to accept the concept that this is the right thing to do,” he said. “Then, the details of implementation will be worked out because there will certainly be details. It is not something you can possibly outline now, but it’s for us to even accept the concept that this is the way to move forward.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had also criticised the prolonged detention of the leader of Kanu, describing it as “an open sore on our nation’s conscience.”

Atiku called for Kanu’s immediate release, insisting that his prolonged detention represented a grave violation of the rule of law.

The IPOB leader has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in Kenya and subsequent extradition to Nigeria in June 2021.

His detention has been marred by legal controversies, including multiple court orders granting him bail orders that have not been complied with by the prosecuting authorities.

The IPOB leader is currently facing a seven-count charge related to alleged terrorism activities. (Channels TV)