Members of the Labour Party caucus in the South-East House of Assembly have added their voices to the growing demands for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021.
In a five-point communique issued in Awka on Saturday, the lawmakers asserted that Kanu’s release is crucial to distinguishing genuine agitators from criminal elements and addressing the escalating insecurity in the South-East region.
The communique, signed by 11 lawmakers including Jude Umennajiego, leader of the LP South-East caucus, emphasized that Kanu’s continued detention exacerbates insecurity and hinders economic activities in the region.
It called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene, stressing that Kanu’s release would promote unity and peace while curbing criminal activities masked as agitation.
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Furthermore, the lawmakers appealed to South-East governors and their counterparts nationwide to facilitate full financial autonomy for state Houses of Assembly, a move they believe will strengthen legislative functions and deepen democracy at the state level.
Addressing broader national issues, the communique urged swift resolution of the minimum wage deadlock and criticized the incarceration of Hon. Bright Ngene in Enugu State, calling for judicial review to ensure justice and fairness.
Additionally, it called on the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly to restore minority leadership positions to the Labour Party in line with procedural fairness.
The lawmakers affirmed their commitment to legislative duties aimed at enhancing governance and representation in their respective states.
The communique was signed by Jude Umennajiego, Kingsley Udemezue, Chidimma Mbachu, Nkechi Ogbuefi, Justice Azuka, Harrison Ogara, Eze Gabriel, Malachy Onyechi, Raymond Ugwu, Fred Ezenwa, and Osita Okoh, representing the Labour Party in the South-East House of Assembly.
