The Concerned Igbo Ministers Commission (CIMC) has issued a stern warning to South-East governors, accusing most of them of deliberate inaction over the prolonged detention of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and describing their silence as a form of complicity.
In a statement signed by its President, Rev. Tony Uzor, the commission recalled that after the conviction judgment delivered by Justice Omotosho, governors from the region publicly pledged to urgently meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in search of a political and humane solution. According to the group, only Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has so far taken concrete steps to honour that promise.
“The rest have chosen silence,” the statement said, adding that the matter can no longer be explained away by excuses of delay or logistics. The commission argued that the continued failure of most governors to act has exposed a lack of sincerity and commitment to the welfare of the Igbo people.
The CIMC alleged that fear and political self-interest are central to the silence, claiming that some Igbo politicians are uncomfortable with Kanu’s popularity and the deep affection he commands among ordinary people. It maintained that Kanu’s release would reveal years of political compromise and quiet cooperation with forces allegedly hostile to Igbo interests.
Reaffirming its position that Kanu is innocent, the commission said he has consistently demonstrated genuine concern for the safety and dignity of the South-East. It defended the Eastern Security Network (ESN), stating that it emerged to protect vulnerable communities during a period of worsening insecurity when state authorities were perceived to have failed.
On the issue of sit-at-home protests, the commission dismissed claims that Kanu ordered the weekly shutdowns. It insisted that the actions arose spontaneously from public pain and frustration and stressed that Kanu made repeated efforts to stop them.
The statement recalled that in 2022, during a visit by Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo to Kanu at the DSS facility, Kanu allegedly begged to be allowed to address the public and call for an end to sit-at-home and violence. According to the commission, the Department of State Services rejected the request, a decision it said allowed criminal elements to hijack the situation and fuel insecurity.
The CIMC also cited Kanu’s open-court statements and a handwritten note warning that anyone enforcing sit-at-home was not acting on his behalf. It questioned how a man in DSS custody could logically be blamed for orchestrating violence across the South-East.
The commission criticised the South-East Governors’ Forum for repeatedly announcing plans to meet the President without tangible outcomes. It warned that political leaders would be held accountable by history, God, and the Igbo people.
Calling for action, the CIMC urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and bring the matter to a just conclusion. It also challenged Igbo governors to either act decisively in defence of their people or stop giving assurances they have no intention of fulfilling.
The statement concluded that Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case is not just about one man, but about justice, dignity, and the future of the Igbo nation.
The statement was signed by Rev. Tony Uzor, President of the Concerned Igbo Ministers Commission (CIMC).