The Iwo monarch says a presidential pardon for the detained IPOB leader would help heal post-Civil War grievances and strengthen national unity

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to grant a presidential pardon to the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, describing the move as an important step towards healing historical grievances and strengthening national unity.

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Oba Akanbi made the appeal in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Ibrahim Alli, saying Kanu’s release would support the fuller integration of the Igbo people into Nigeria’s national discourse.

The monarch commended Tinubu for what he described as an inclusive administration without tribal discrimination, arguing that a presidential pardon for Kanu would further demonstrate the President’s commitment to a united Nigeria.

According to the Oluwo, the lingering frustrations associated with the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War remain a difficult historical wound, particularly among the Igbo people.

He said the Federal Government should consider Kanu’s release as part of broader efforts to address those grievances and promote reconciliation.

Oba Akanbi said the pardon should be viewed not merely as an intervention for an individual but as a gesture towards the Igbo people and an opportunity to strengthen the bonds holding the country together.

“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 a counsellor to his tribesmen, toeing the line of violence,” the monarch said.

The Oluwo stressed that his appeal was not a call for demonstrations or confrontation with the government.

“Oluwo is not calling people for protest but making a holistic appeal to President Tinubu to honour the tribe by releasing Nnamdi Kanu,” he said.

Oba Akanbi expressed the hope that such a decision would provide historical and emotional relief to many Igbos while contributing to a stronger sense of belonging within the Nigerian federation.

He said Nigeria could not continue to allow historical grievances to deepen ethnic divisions, urging Nigerians to embrace reconciliation rather than perpetuate old wounds.

“There must be love for one another in this country. Nigeria is divided along tribal attachment because of past experiences. We must stop nursing old wounds. The time is ripe to heal the wound,” the monarch said.

The appeal comes amid longstanding debate over Kanu’s continued detention and the wider question of how the Federal Government should respond to separatist agitation in the South-East.

Kanu, who leads IPOB, has remained at the centre of the dispute over self-determination and allegations linked to activities associated with the group. The Nigerian government proscribed IPOB as a terrorist organisation in 2017, a designation the group has consistently rejected.

The Oluwo’s intervention places the issue within a broader framework of reconciliation, arguing that political and historical grievances require gestures capable of rebuilding trust across ethnic lines.

Oba Akanbi maintained that releasing Kanu, subject to appropriate caution and counselling, could become a powerful symbol of reconciliation and reinforce the message that Nigeria’s unity can be strengthened through dialogue, inclusion and mutual understanding.

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The monarch ultimately urged the President to seize the opportunity to address longstanding grievances and promote a more cohesive national identity.