S’East LP Lawmakers Call for Immediate Release of Nnamdi Kanu
By Ikemefuna Asika
The South East house of assembly members from Labour party has called for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
They made the call today Saturday 13th July 2024 at the Labour Party office at Udoka Housing Estate, Awka while addressing the press
The Caucus Leader of Assembly members, Hon. Bar. Jude Ifeanyi Umennajiego
disclosed that after their meeting of 10th day of July, 2024, the caucus
expressed happiness and gratitude to the Southeast Governors, Senators and House of Representatives members on their recent resolve to interface with the Federal Government for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
They noted that it is in line with the position of several Nigerian leaders, including Chief Edwin Clark, His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi and several others.
They also see it as a demonstration of leadership and show of concern for the people.
“We therefore, lend our voices in appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, so as to douse the current ravaging insecurity in the zone.
“This insecurity has grounded the economy of the region and has occasioned unprecedented loss of human lives as well as destruction of property. His release will act as a healing balm to the region and also encourage the feeling of oneness as a nation.
“Furthermore, it will separate genuine agitators from criminals in the business of kidnapping”
They also appealed to the Governors of South East Region and indeed the whole nation to grant full financial autonomy to the State Houses of Assembly in accordance with the constitution and the Principles of Separation of Powers.
This they maintained will go a long way in ensuring more robust assemblies, by enhancing their functionalities in the area of law making, oversight and other attendant legislative duties.
The members also called for the quick resolution of the current minimum wage impasse between the governments, organized private sector and Labour Unions as the current economic reality and astronomical increment in the prices of goods and services as the worst hit appears to be the workers whose income is obviously not enough under current situation.
They abhored the recent hasty incarceration of Hon. Bright Ngene who is a candidate in a rerun election in Enugu state and whose prison sentence seemed to be politically motivated.
“We call on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to look into the case and ensure that justice is done. It is surprising that even when the community who are the complainants in the case opted to withdraw the case, the court still proceeded to trial and sentence him to jail in controversial and suspicious circumstance without giving room for the adoption of written addresses by the parties”.
The Caucus also appealed to the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly to as a matter of urgency ensure that in accordance with the standing order of the House, the minority positions due to the Labour Party are given to them without further delay. Since there are only two parties in the house, It is only right that the Labour Party is now in the minority and should be entitled to their minority leadership position.
On the question about the release of Nnamdi Kanu, Hon. Umennajiego stated that the likes of Sunday Igbogho and Asari Dokubo were released after incasarotion and nothing happened, they have not caused any problem in their areas.
“I don’t see why our own will be different while you think if Nnamdi Kanu is released there will be problem.
“We know that a lot of people are agitating, claiming that they are fighting for Nnamdi Kanu, let him be released so that we know who and who are genuinely agitating for his release and those who are clearly in criminality and banditary.
” If they can release other people and nothing happened and peace reigns in their area, I don’t think the Igbo man is a foolish person that when he is released, will go and cause trouble in his own homeland” he said.
Caucus members present during the briefing includes
Hon. Bar. Jude Ifeanyi Umennajiego (Caucus Leader), Hon. Justice Azuka (Onitsha North 1), Hon. Eze Gabriel, Hon. Fred Ezenwa (Onitsha South 1) and Hon. Osita Okoh (Enugu East Urban)
and Hon. Ramond Ugwu.