Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), saying his freedom is vital for constructive dialogue on the future of the Igbo nation.

Speaking on Monday in Awka at the 2025 World Igbo Day celebration organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Soludo said Kanu’s release would create room for a roundtable discussion capable of shaping the destiny of the Igbo.

The celebration, themed Onye Aghana Nwanne Ya (Be your brother’s keeper), was dedicated to unity and reflection. Soludo urged Ndigbo to revisit their history and chart a new course, noting that the South-East holds a “significant stake in the Nigerian project.”

He commended Ohanaeze for designating September 29 to honour those who died in the struggle for nationhood, describing the act as a “solemn and necessary step towards healing and reflection.”

The governor cautioned against agitation for conflict, stressing that only those who never experienced war clamour for it. “Those who truly saw war will never pray for such to befall Igbo land, Nigeria, or any nation,” he said.

Soludo also challenged Ohanaeze to take the lead in tackling insecurity in the South-East and driving a moral rebirth anchored on Igbo values of integrity, hard work, and enterprise.

“We need the cleansing of Igbo land to revive and promote our value system. Ohanaeze must rise up and lead this moral transformation,” he declared.