Our Reporter, Abuja
Retired Major General Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma has called on the Igbo nation to make the release of detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a top political priority ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The retired army officer made the call on Thursday during the July edition of the Ikengaonline virtual townhall meeting that drew participants from across Nigeria and the diaspora.
General Ijioma, who provided a sweeping historical analysis of Igbo political participation in Nigeria, decried what he described as Igbos’ worst era under the current APC-led government. He lamented the “shameful decline” of Igbo influence in Nigeria’s political landscape, saying the South-East has been deliberately sidelined in executive, legislative, and judicial appointments.
He argued that Kanu’s continued detention symbolizes the marginalisation of the region and warned that failure to secure his release would further erode the South-East’s political relevance.
“If Ndigbo cannot come together and demand the release of their son, then we have no business talking about 2027,” he stated.
The retired General urged South-East governors to meet the Federal Government with a united voice to press for Kanu’s release. He also called on Igbo political elites to bury their differences and form a critical mass capable of negotiating from a position of strength in the run-up to the 2027 elections.
Addressing the broader issue of leadership, Ijioma criticised the Nigerian political class for weaponizing poverty and manipulating ethnic divisions for selfish gain. He also expressed concern over the manipulation of the 2023 election results and called for greater transparency in future polls.
On the 2027 elections, Ijioma expressed strong support for Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate. He warned against Obi returning to the PDP or aligning with unstable coalitions like the ADC, arguing that his integrity and popularity among the masses make him a formidable candidate if backed by a united South-East.
“The only people who fear Obi are the political elites who know they can’t control him,” Ijioma said, urging the Igbo people to rally behind him as their best shot at national relevance in 2027.
