According to Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, drastic measures are being taken to ensure Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), is freed.

He noted that political solutions are being worked on in parallel with the court processes.

The Deputy Speaker stated that it was intentional to work behind the scenes to achieve the goal while speaking virtually on Monday at a special edition of “The Ben Kalu’s Mandate,” a radio program of FLO FM, Umuahia, Abia State.

Following an inquiry by Wisdom Thomas, the program anchor, regarding whether the IPOB leader has been abandoned by the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P), a recently launched initiative of the Deputy Speaker that advocates for a non-kinetic measure to resolve the security challenges in the South East, Kalu provided clarification.

The Deputy Speaker mentioned the possibility of an Igbo land elders’ visit to discuss common issues impacting the South East with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while simultaneously urging support for his administration.

He said: “The Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) has reconciliation in the mix of what we are trying to achieve. We recognise the importance of our brother, Nnamdi Kanu in the peace agenda we are pushing. That’s the truth. And I have been very vocal about it. I am not hiding it.

“I have always told people that I will never deny Nnamdi Kanu. He’s my brother. We come from the same place and I will never be happy having him incarcerated when we can have him out and increase our pursuit towards peace. But we may not advance all the things we are doing behind our backs but I can assure you that all the powers-that-be in this country know that people like us are not sitting on the fence.

“We cannot go about this before the court. I am more interested in using a political solution towards resolving this. So, I am asking for one or two things from the federal government.

“The last time I was with Mr. President, I discussed with Mr. President the need for the elders of Igbo land to come, sit and engage with him. And I know that one of the topics that will come up there is our brother and also SEDC.

“As we are asking Mr. President to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for us and giving us the South East Development Commission, we must on the other show him loyalty by making sure that there is peace in our area. No violence, support his government.”

Speaking about the South East Development Commission Bill’s current status, Kalu stated that it is currently in the conference committee stage, where some concerns about the commissioners’ confirmation are being worked out.