Nnamdi Kanu: Only Courage Can Save Igboland—Activists Urge Igbo Monarchs to Speak with One Voice

 

​The sociopolitical landscape of South-East Nigeria has been hit by a wave of renewed advocacy as prominent pan-Igbo groups call for a unified front among traditional rulers. In a powerful joint statement released on Friday, February 20, 2026, a coalition of activists declared that "only courage, and not cowardice," can rescue Igboland from its current security and political challenges. At the heart of this clarion call is the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), whose legal ordeal remains a focal point of regional tension.

​The Abuja Encounter: A Monarch’s Bold Stand

​The latest spark in this long-running discourse was ignited at the 2026 National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. During the event, HRM Dr. Lawrence Agubuzu, the Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom in Enugu State, took a rare and courageous step. In the presence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the monarch openly demanded the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

​"Bring this man out. If we don’t want him in Nigeria, return him to Kenya or London where they took him from," Eze Agubuzu told the President. He emphasized that national progress is impossible without addressing the "truth" of the South-East’s grievances. This public confrontation has since been hailed by activists as a blueprint for how Igbo leaders should engage with the federal government.

​Activists’ Joint Statement: Breaking the Silence

​Following the monarch's bold appeal, a coalition comprising the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), Ambassadors for Self-Determination, and the Rising Sun Foundation issued a stern message to other traditional rulers in the South-East.

​The statement, signed by leaders including Dr. Sylvester Onyia (AVID), Chief Evans Nwankwo, and Dr. Maxwell Dede, criticized what they described as "complicity and cowardice" among many Igbo monarchs. The activists argued that for too long, the traditional institution has been "too weak or too compromised" to speak the truth to power. They urged the monarchs to abandon their perceived silence and "speak with one voice" to end the marginalization of the Igbo people.

​The Legal and Security Context of Nnamdi Kanu’s Detention

​Nnamdi Kanu is currently appealing a life sentence handed down in late 2025, following his extraordinary rendition from Kenya in 2021. He is presently held at the Sokoto Medium Correctional Facility.

​The activists noted several key points in their demand for his release:

1. ​Regional Stability: They argue that Kanu’s release is the primary key to dousing the "uprising and tension" in the South-East.
2. ​Comparison with Other Agitators: The groups pointed to the differential treatment of Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Igboho, noting that while Igboho is being celebrated and honored, Kanu remains incarcerated for similar ethnic advocacies.
3. ​Security Risks: Pro-Igbo clerics have also warned that the "common enemy" (identified as roving banditry and terrorist networks) is encroaching on both Igbo and Yoruba lands, necessitating a united front that only Kanu’s freedom might facilitate.

​A Call for Igbo Unity and "One Voice"

​The central theme of the activists' message is unity. They contend that as long as the South-East governors and monarchs remain fragmented in their approach, the federal government will continue to ignore their pleas. By emulating Eze Agubuzu, the activists believe the traditional institution can reclaim its dignity and lead the region toward a political solution.

​The statement concluded with a warning: "History will record where everyone stood in this moment." The activists believe that the survival of the Igbo identity within the Nigerian state depends on the collective courage of its leaders to stand firmly for justice.