Former Special Adviser to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says the Buhari government did a favour to the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, by extraditing him to Nigeria.
Kanu, formerly a fugitive was extradited to Nigeria in June 2021 from Kenya to continue his appearance at a Federal High Court Abuja where he is facing an 11-count charges bordering terrorism, treasonable felony, managing unlawful society and others. The IPOB leader had jumped bail and fled from Nigeria after the invasion of his father’s village residence by troops of Nigerian Army and other security agencies.
Adesina, quoting Buhari in his book titled ‘Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023),’ launched in Abuja last week, said while responding to a delegation under the aegis of ‘Highly-Respected Igbo Greats, said: “In the past six years, I have developed a system where in which I don’t interfere with the judiciary. That was why in the case of Kanu, I said the best was to subject him to the system.
“Let him make his case in court instead of giving a terrible impression of the country from outside.
“I feel it is a favour to give him (Kanu) that opportunity. Government could have mobilized to eliminate him where he was, but we did not do that.
“You have made an extremely difficult demand on me as the leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years, nobody will say I have confronted the judiciary. We are developing a country, and we have to go through the pains.
“The demand you have made is heavy, but I will consider it. I am glad to know you closely at this time. Please, accept my sympathy once again on the loss of your wife. May her soul rest in peace,” Buhari added while consoling Chief Mbazulike Ameachi.
Amaechi, a First Republic Minister of Aviation, who led the delegation to the Presidential Villa with a demand of unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, said the situation in the East was painful and pathetic hence meeting Buhari for solution.
The only surviving First Republic Minister, then 93, had vowed that if the IPOB leader was released to him, “I assure you he will no longer say the things he used to say,” he said.