By Shina Abubakar Osogbo
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdurosheed Akanbi has called on President Bola Tinubu to grant leader of Biafra Nation agitators, Mr Nnamdi Kanu presidential amnesty with view to deepening national cohesion.
The monarch in a statement made available to newsmen by his media aide, Ibrahim Alli on Tuesday, likened the situation of Kanu to that of Post Trauma Stress Disorder, PTSD, following the loss the Igbo nation suffered during the civil war.
While commending President Tinubu for running an inclusive administration, he said granting amnesty to Kanu will deepen national discourse and entrench him as a detribalized President.
“The post war frustration being nursed by Igbos cannot be easily healed. While I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reintegration process as unprecedented, I call for further historical steps such as granting a presidential amnesty to the incarcerated leader of the Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
“A panel can be set to address the healing of the Igbos. The healing of the Igbos is a healing to Nigeria as a nation. Till date, the Igbos has animosity against the Yorubas because of Awolowo’s role in the civil war.
Post Trauma Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a very dangerous disorder everywhere wars have ravaged. The imprisoned Kanu may also be suffering from PTSD. About 3million Igbos died in the civil war. Some of them still see their nation as their own enemy. Many Igbos are still bittered because one of their leaders is rotting in prison.
“There are many cases of PTSD amongs the Iranians, Afghanistans, Americans and Iraqis. Many of those who suffered the war were still suffering from PTSD till date. I acknowledged the magnitude of Kanu’s excess that warranted his imprisonment. I appeal to the president to consider the identity of his tribe not an individual.
“Nnamdi Kanu only needs to be cautioned and counselled before he can be released because of his temperament. I am hopeful he will turn a new leaf and be counsellor to his tribe-men toeing the line of violence.
“I am not calling people for protest but making an holistic appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to honour the tribe by releassing Nnamdi Kanu. I express hope that the step, if respected, will further cement the unity and unison of Nigeria as a united nation. There must be love for one another in this country.
Nigeria is divided along tribal attachment because of the past experience. We must stop nursing old wounds. The time is ripe to heal the wound”.
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