The Oluwo of Iwoland, HIM Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant a presidential pardon to Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Oluwo, while appealing for healing over the losses suffered by the Igbo during the Nigerian Civil War, said Kanu’s release would help in the continued reintegration of the Igbo into the national discourse.
He linked the psychological impact of war to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), describing it as a serious condition that could affect victims long after the end of hostilities. He noted that former soldiers who participated in wars could also suffer from the condition and suggested that Kanu could be among those affected.
The monarch commended President Tinubu for what he described as an inclusive administration without tribal discrimination, saying a presidential pardon for Kanu would further demonstrate the President’s commitment to national unity.
Oluwo said the frustration experienced by many Igbos after the civil war remained a difficult wound to heal and urged the Federal Government to take further steps to address the lingering effects of the conflict.
He made the appeal in a statement made available to newsmen through his Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, stressing that the proposed pardon should be considered in honour of the Igbo people rather than for Kanu as an individual.
According to him, the post-war frustration among the Igbos could not be easily addressed without deliberate efforts toward reconciliation and reintegration.
He said the Federal Government could also establish a panel to examine the historical grievances and healing process of the Igbo, noting that addressing their concerns would contribute to the overall unity of Nigeria.
Oluwo recalled that about three million Igbos were reported to have died during the civil war and said the experiences of the conflict had left lasting emotional wounds among many survivors and their descendants.
He noted that similar cases of PTSD had been experienced by people affected by wars in countries including Iran, Afghanistan, the United States and Iraq, stressing that the psychological consequences of conflicts could persist for decades.
The monarch acknowledged the circumstances that led to Kanu’s incarceration but appealed to President Tinubu to consider his release from the perspective of the Igbo people and the broader interest of national reconciliation.
He suggested that Kanu could be cautioned and counselled before his release, expressing hope that he would abandon violence and become an advocate for peaceful engagement among his people.
Oluwo clarified that his appeal was not a call for protest but a plea to the President to take a historical step that could help strengthen national unity.
He said releasing Kanu could provide an opportunity to address lingering grievances and encourage Nigerians to move beyond past divisions.
The monarch urged Nigerians to embrace love and reconciliation, saying the country remained divided along tribal lines partly because of unresolved experiences from the past.
He called for an end to the continued nurturing of old wounds and urged the Federal Government and citizens to use the present period to promote healing and unity.
