Pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group: Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned South-East governors of Enugu and Anambra states for organising politically charged celebratory events with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as chief celebrant whereas the same President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is behind the continuation of the illegal detention and persecution of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Few weeks back, the Enugu state governor Mr. Peter Mba organised a Kangaroo event to commission some of his administration’s ‘projects’ and the Chief celebrant was the President of the country President Bola Ahmed Tinubu just as the Anambra State governor is currently hosting President Tinubu in an atmosphere of pomp and pageantry.
It would be recalled that all through the visit of President Tinubu to Enugu state, Mr. Mbah the governor did not for once mentioned the developmental challenges confronting Ndigbo particularly the critical issues of the unfair detention and wrongful persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the loud marginalization of Ndigbo by Tinubu from the juicy appointments and national infrastructures for the citizens but Peter Mbah was busy promoting his self-centred political agenda using the resources of the good people of Enugu state.
HURIWA in a media statement endorsed by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated that organising such elaborate celebratory events for the President who persistently failed to listen to even the governors and political gladiators of South East to end the unjust incarceration and dubious trial before the Federal High Court for the so-called treason and terrorism charges of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, shows that both the Anambra and Enugu states governors are very insensitive about the situations of things in the South-East and the crippling effects of the insecurity generated by the unjust arrest, prolonged detention and the dubious trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
HURIWA stated thus:”We are not against the President of Nigeria embarking on states visitations to any part of Nigeria but what we think that is wrong about the extensive celebratory atmospherics generated in the media by the Anambra and the Enugu states governors about the visits of the President and the fact that nothing is ever mentioned about the heightened insecurity in the South-East region and these governors who organise these politically motivated commissioning ceremonies in which President Tinubu is chief celebrant are doing these publicly funded events to boost their selfish political agenda and not to advance the collective interests of Ndigbo which was why Chukwuma Soludo had the temerity to assert that releasing Nnamdi Kanu wouldn’t reduce insecurity in the South-East.
“These governors are definitely anti-Igbo and anti-people of the South-East region. Unlike governors of either the South West or North West of the country who put the interests of their regions at the forefront of their negotiations with the centre or President Tinubu, these South East governors care only about their selfish political agenda. This is tragic”.
HURIWA recalled that President Bola Tinubu reportedly arrived at the Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri, Anambra State, for an official visit to the state.
On the President’s entourage was the special adviser on security, Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu, among others.
The Nigerian leader arrived on board the Nigerian Air Force Airbus at about 12:17 pm, wearing the Akwete Igbo fabric with a red cap to match, and headed straight to the podium where the national anthem was sung.
Present to receive the president at the airport were the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; his Deputy, Onyekachukwu Ibezim; members of the House of Assembly; top dignitaries from the state, among others.
Tinubu, after receiving some gun salutes from personnel of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, entered into an official car waiting for him with Soludo, where he is being taken to where he is expected to commence the business of his visit.
The president is expected to commission some “legacy” projects completed by the Soludo administration.
HURIWA charged the South-East leaders to be sensitive to the needs of the Igbo region and the collective interests of the people for inclusion and protection of the fundamental values and human rights of the Igbo people as equal citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria rather than promote their selfish political agenda and show their endorsement of the persecution of Nnamdi Kanu and the exclusion of Igbos from important government positions and the denial of Igboland of key national infrastructures.
COMRADE EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO,
NATIONAL COORDINATOR,
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA). May 8th 2025.
