By Adadareporters
The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), led by Yerima Shettima, is inconsequential on its opposition to the freedom of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
Kanu, facing terrorism charges, is being detained at the custody of the State Security Services in Abuja. Hopes are high that President Bola Tinubu might free him following efforts by South-East stakeholders. Recall that Court of Appeal had earlier discharged and acquitted him, though the federal government under former president Muhammadu Buhari refused to release him. Arewa Youths recently called for his continued detention.
The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), in a statement, described Shettima as “a selfish religious bigot”.
Its leader, Uchenna Madu, said, “We know him as a diehard enemy of southern regions’ interest in Nigeria. Yerima Shettima’s assertion against Ndigbo and Biafra in general is an expression of frustration and irrelevance in their grip of political powers in Nigeria.”
Kanu said Shettima is expressing his frustration because “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can never be cowed with the Arewa mentality of promoting the Fulani expansion in Nigeria”.
Quoting him, “We are Biafrans. We shall never allow our pathological haters to frustrate or kill our existence in Nigeria. The release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is long overdue.”
MASSOB thanked the Southeast Governors’ Forum, led by Sen Hope Uzodinma, and Southeast Lawmakers, led Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, for their efforts towards the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
“We also appreciate other individuals, groups and lovers of justice and freedom for their calls for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention,” Kanu said.
Kanu described MASSOB as a pro-Biafra agitator, and likened the group to President Tinubu who was once a social activist during the military era.
Madu continued, “MASSOB demands the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as he did for Sunday Igboho in Benin Republic prison.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, is being held at the custody of the State Security Services in Abuja since 2021 when he was renditioned from Kenya to Nigeria. He is charged with terrorism, and stands trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
