2027: Igbo Youths Give Reason to Vote Tinubu
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The President-General of the All Igbo Youth Forum (AIYF), Chief Chinedum Obilor, has called on President Bola Tinubu to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from detention if he wants to secure massive support from the South East in the 2027 general election.
Obilor, who spoke during an executive meeting of the Forum held in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Tuesday, said that if the Federal Government fails to heed their call, the group will mobilize over one million youths to take a decisive stand on the forthcoming election within the next two months.
The youth leader expressed concern over the continued detention of Kanu, especially when other freedom fighters, such as Sunday Igboho, have regained their freedom.
He criticized South East politicians for their alleged indifference to Kanu’s continued incarceration.
Obilor stated that if President Tinubu responds to their demands, he will gain support from Igbo youths, but if he refuses, he will face consequences at the ballot box.
The AIYF leader added that the All Progressives Congress (APC) performed poorly in the South East during the 2023 general elections because of the Federal Government’s failure to release Kanu.
He said,
“The information reaching me is that our brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, won his case in Kenya last week.
We, the Igbo youth, convened this meeting to let the President know that Kanu should be released. He hasn’t done anything more than other freedom fighters like Sunday Igboho, who has already been released.
Why must Kanu’s case be different? Are the Igbo second-class citizens in this country? Are we not part of Nigeria?
We want the Federal Government to hear directly from Igbo youths—we are not happy that our brother is still in detention.
We’ve noticed that some politicians, governors, senators, and House of Representatives members, are part of the reason Kanu is still detained. When they go to Abuja, they only discuss personal matters with the President. They are not in charge, the youths are.
We want to use this opportunity to tell Mr. President that the APC lost the South East in the last election because of Kanu’s detention. If he doesn’t release him within two months, we will mobilize more than one million youths and align with any person or party that promises to release Kanu if they come to power.
Politicians are using Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for politics, and we are warning them—enough is enough. When Kanu appears in court, you hardly see any governor or National Assembly member, except one man, Hon. Obi Obi Aguocha.
Politicians must remember they are in office because of our votes. If they cannot speak up for Kanu now, they should not use his name in 2027 campaigns.
We are pleading with the President to listen to us. Even our late leader, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, pleaded with the Federal Government to release Kanu, but they refused. We are now urging President Tinubu to use wisdom and grant him freedom.
If he does this, he won’t need to buy votes in the South East, he won’t need to give us rice or money. This is the only thing we want. If he fulfills this request, he will hear from us in 2027. If he fails, he will still hear from us.”