Enugu Governor Mbah Reiterates Call for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release
Enugu Governor Mbah Reiterates Call for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release
Enugu, Nigeria — Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has renewed his appeal for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, stressing that freeing him “is the right thing to do.”
Mbah spoke during a question-and-answer session after his presentation on Leadership and Transformation at the Showcase Session of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu.
The governor disclosed that his first official visit to the President centered on Kanu’s release, noting that he remained hopeful the matter would soon be resolved.
“My first visit to the President was about Nnamdi Kanu. I believe that the right thing to do is to release him. Hopefully, that will be done soon,” Mbah said.
Sit-at-Home “Now History” in Enugu
Mbah highlighted that the controversial Monday sit-at-home protest in the Southeast—linked to Kanu’s detention—was now a thing of the past in Enugu.
“We met a situation where people were compelled to stay at home every Monday. Now, people trade in Ogbete and other markets in peace on Mondays. Monday sit-at-home has ended in Enugu, as you (lawyers) can see. You can also move around and investigate,” he said.
Transformational Leadership Vision
In his keynote presentation, the governor outlined his administration’s vision to transform Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, eradicate poverty, and position the state as Nigeria’s top destination for business, tourism, and quality living.
He said these ambitions were anchored on security, infrastructure, and human capital development.
Security: He noted that Enugu had recorded over an 80% reduction in violent crime through a tech-driven, intelligence-led security architecture anchored in a Command and Control Centre with AI surveillance and integrated response units.
Projects: He listed over 2,000 completed or ongoing projects across health, roads, transport, agriculture, and education.
Education: He explained that allocating 33% of the state’s annual budget to education was a deliberate choice, rooted in the belief that the state’s long-term prosperity lies in its human capital.
“We committed over 33 per cent of our budget to education – a decision some thought was reckless. But we knew it was essential,” he added.
Background
Kanu is facing terrorism-related charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, which he has consistently denied. His continued detention has fueled agitation and protests across the Southeast, including the now-weakened sit-at-home order.
Mbah’s latest call adds to mounting appeals from political, traditional, and religious leaders urging the Federal Government to pursue a political solution to the case.
By Haruna Yakubu Haruna
