Former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, on Monday paid a visit to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the detention centre of the Department of State Services (DSS), Abuja.
Kalu, who is also the Chief Whip of the Senate, said the visit was in solidarity with a kinsman in distress, even though both of them do not share the same ideology. According to Kalu, the IPOB leader was hale and hearty when he met with him and discussed as brothers would at a family meeting.
In a post on his verified Facebook page, Kalu wrote: “This afternoon, I visited my brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in DSS custody, Abuja. I met him in good health and care and we discussed ‘Umunne’.
“In 2001 when I was Governor, I made his father Eze Israel Okwu Kanu the traditional ruler of Afara Ukwu and since then the family has been very close to me
“I understand that Nnamdi has an insane amount of people rooting for his return back home and I encouraged him to consider the consequences of certain actions and utterances for the sake of the same people.
“Even though my ideology and his ideology are totally different, God has made us brothers and we can’t run away from each other. I owe him and Nigerians good counselling…whether he and his family listen to me or not, I will continue counselling him as I have always done in the past. What we need most is a peaceful and secured society.”
In recent weeks, lawyers to the IPOB leader have raised alarm about his state of health and the need for him to be allowed to his doctors in order to undergo an independent medical check to ascertain his state of health.
The counsels had criticised the DSS for preventing Kanu’s doctors and family members from having access to him.
Kanu has had a long running battle with the Nigerian state since he launched his self-determination campaign geared towards restoring the defunct Republic of Biafra 50 years after the dream was first launched but failed.
The latest ordeal of the leader of the separatist group began after he jumped bail in Nigeria but was intercepted in Kenya by security operatives in that country and handed over to Nigeria.
The Federal Government recently re-arraigned him in court and amended the charges against him, raising them to seven counts as against the five he was previously facing. All the charges border on treasonable felony and terrorism, but Kanu has pleaded not guilty to all of them.
In the meantime, there are moves by leaders of the South East geopolitical zone to explore a political solution that will get him off the hook.
| Posted: at | |
TRENDING GISTS 
I'm Building PDP, Not Tearing it Apart - Wike Addresses The Press (Video)
VIDEO: Man Caught While Waiting For a Minor he Had Solicited S£x From Online
Emotional Moment Femi Adebayo Presented His 2025 AMVCA Trophies to His Dad, Adebayo Salami
Rapper, Phyno Unveils His Daughter, Shares Adorable Video to Mark Her Second Birthday
Ex Madrid Player, Xabi Alonso Seals Managerial Move To Real Madrid As Ancelotti Bows Out