Release Kanu, Return to Regional Autonomy-US Military Veterans of Igbo Descent

The United States Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVIDUSA) has called on President Bola Tinubu to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and return the country to the 1963 regional autonomy. AVIDUSA said it believes that a return of Nigeria to the 1960/63 regional autonomy was the only way to mitigate Nigeria’s socio-economic and security problems.


In a statement signed by AVIDUSA President, Dr Sylvester Onyia, and Secretary, Dr Godson Obiagwu, and made available to Sunday Sun, the group recalled that in 2017, shortly after Kanu was released from detention, the late Prof Ben Nwabueze, Evangelist Elliot U. Uko, and the Southeast governors met in Enugu State to discuss the demands of the Biafran people.

The statement reads in part: “On August 30, 2017, Nnamdi Kanu made these demands before the Southeast governors, who were chaired by Dave Umahi.

“His demands included, to make Enugu a grade one international airport so that our people in different parts of the world can easily fly in without having to stop over first in any part of Nigeria.

“That River Niger be dredged to reduce the heavy loss of importation which our people who dominate the sector painfully bear.

“That Owerri airport which our people contributed money to build in the days of Governor Sam Mbakwe be upgraded to a functional cargo airport.


“That Port Harcourt seaports be made to operate in full capacity so that bigships can berth in them.

“Kanu demanded the revival of all moribund industries in the Southeast and South-south to provide job opportunities for thousands of our youths and graduates from higher institutions.


“Following announcement of his demands to the Southeast, Nnamdi Kanu reiterated that if they fail to address these problems, Biafrans will demand a referendum on their status as foreigners in Nigeria.”

The group noted that the IPOB leader had out of respect acceded to Prof Nwabueze’s postulation that Nigeria was better off under the 1963 Constitution.

“Respecting Prof. Ben Nwabueze as his father, he consented to restructuring along 1960 to 1963 Constitution, up until two weeks later, when Nigerian government security agents broke into his home in Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Abia State of Nigeria, and killed 28 persons,” the group said.

AVIDUSA recollected how Kanu lost his parents as a result of the invasion and was labelled a terrorist because they didn’t know what the IPOB leader stood for.

The group was of the view that since those problems that led to Kanu’s agitation, like restructuring and development of the Southeast, are being discussed now, that the IPOB leader should be released without further delay.