Bianca Ojukwu Urges Dialogue, Peaceful Steps For Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

At this year’s Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Day in Owerri, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, appealed to people of the South East to embrace dialogue and collective engagement as the path toward securing the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Her message, delivered at the 14th edition of the event held at the Ojukwu Memorial Library, focused on unity, peace and the need for calm as the region navigates the ongoing agitation.

Ojukwu reminded attendees that although the court of first instance has sentenced Kanu, there is still room for resolution through nonviolent means. She noted that peaceful engagement remains a strong channel to ensure his release from the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

The annual memorial event, instituted by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, founder of MASSOB, draws Igbo participants from across the South East and beyond. During her speech, Ojukwu called for a minute of silence in honour of the late BBC journalist Frederick Forsyth, who she said dedicated her career to documenting events during the 1967 to 1970 civil war.

She stressed that anger or violence will not solve the present challenge. Instead, she urged families and community groups to meet with lawmakers and governors during the Christmas period to discuss constructive steps toward Kanu’s freedom. She added that the region should work together to seek peaceful dialogue with President Bola Tinubu on the matter.

Ojukwu encouraged the South East to follow the example of other regions where issues are addressed through negotiation and cooperation. She expressed concern that many Igbo children no longer speak their mother tongue, noting that parental involvement is essential in preserving the language and shaping children’s cultural identity.

Reflecting on history, she reminded the audience that during the civil war, the Igbo community did not resort to killing or kidnapping, and she lamented that rising insecurity has now reshaped the region’s atmosphere. She urged the youth to prioritise patience, peace and dialogue, citing her late husband’s experience in exile and the eventual unconditional pardon granted by former President Shehu Shagari.

Ojukwu also raised alarm over dwindling economic activity in the South East, attributing it to the Monday sit at home and the general state of insecurity. She noted that investors, both foreign and local, have moved their businesses to other parts of the country due to the instability.

Foreign nationals from countries such as Cameroon, Ghana and Togo once frequented the region to invest, but the shift in security conditions has led many to withdraw.

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Ugwunna Ajaelu, echoed Ojukwu’s call for diplomatic engagement, urging collective effort to ensure that Nnamdi Kanu regains his freedom soon.