Ruler Urges Tinubu to Resolve Kanu Detention Crisis

A prominent Southeast traditional ruler, His Majesty Igwe, Ambassador Dr. Lawrence Okolio Chikezie Agubuzu, has called on the Federal Government to urgently address the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, warning that growing frustration among young people in the region is eroding trust in traditional institutions and threatening national cohesion.

Speaking in Abuja at a gathering of traditional rulers, Agubuzu, the Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom, said the agitation surrounding Kanu’s detention has created deep emotional strain in the Southeast and is complicating efforts by royal fathers to maintain peace in their communities.

He appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, arguing that progress in the country would remain difficult without confronting sensitive national issues honestly. According to him, many youths in the Southeast now view traditional rulers with suspicion, believing they have been compromised, which has made local leadership increasingly difficult.

Agubuzu expressed disappointment that the president was absent during earlier sessions of the meeting, where unity and teamwork were emphasized by senior royal figures. He said the message of national unity rang hollow against the backdrop of Kanu’s continued detention, which he described as a personal and regional source of pain.

Drawing a comparison with separatist figure Sunday Igboho, Agubuzu said honoring one agitator while another remains in custody sends conflicting signals and deepens regional grievances. He urged authorities to resolve Kanu’s status decisively, suggesting that if Nigeria does not want him tried locally, he should be returned to the country from which he was extradited.

Beyond the security concerns, the monarch also challenged the structure of engagement between the Federal Government and traditional institutions. He rejected the idea of a unified Southern Traditional Rulers Council, insisting that the South operates under diverse systems that require region-specific representation. He warned that channeling resources through bodies that do not genuinely represent grassroots traditional authorities undermines democratic principles.

Despite his criticisms, Agubuzu reaffirmed the commitment of traditional rulers to public welfare, especially in health initiatives discussed at the event. He said exposure to presentations by medical experts had strengthened their resolve to return home and work harder for their communities.

He concluded with a collective appeal for the presidency to listen to the concerns of traditional leaders across the country, stressing that national stability depends on acknowledging and addressing uncomfortable truths.