Umahi Says Nnamdi Kanu’s Release Not Condition for South-East’s Support for Tinubu
Lagos, Nigeria | July 6, 2025 – IDNN South-East Politics Desk
Nigeria’s Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, has stated that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), should not be seen as a precondition for the South-East’s political support for President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Umahi stressed that the South-East remains committed to the development of Nigeria and does not intend to use Kanu’s case as political blackmail.
“Somebody asked me about Nnamdi Kanu, and I said his matter is not a condition for the South-East to support the President,” Umahi stated.
“We are willing to negotiate his release, but no one should make it a condition because the President did not put him there.”
Dialogue Over Pressure
Umahi emphasized that President Tinubu is a “listening leader” and any resolution regarding Kanu’s situation would come through “divine grace and quiet diplomacy,” not media pressure or ultimatums.
“President Tinubu may not be perfect, but he is doing most things right,” Umahi said.
“Kanu’s release will come through faith, not force.”
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Support for Tinubu’s Projects in South-East
Umahi, one of the South-East’s top-ranking cabinet members, highlighted major federal infrastructure projects underway in the region, crediting the Tinubu administration for reviving long-abandoned road networks.
“Let those criticising the President show us what they have done,” he challenged.
“This government is doing more for the South-East than many past ones.”
He called on critics to focus on developmental dialogue instead of framing everything through the lens of Biafra agitation or ethnic isolation.
No 2027 Presidential Ambitions
Umahi also firmly ruled out any presidential ambition of his own, declaring that his loyalty remains fully with President Tinubu and the APC.
“I will not run. I will work for my boss, President Tinubu,” he said.
“APC is the path to achieving what we want. The South-East now has a voice at the centre. We will not return to Egypt.”
His “return to Egypt” remark referenced the South-East’s past marginalization and his call for political pragmatism in the region.
IDNN VERDICT:
Umahi is positioning the South-East as part of the Tinubu alliance—seeking relevance through dialogue, not defiance. But for many Igbos, Kanu remains an emotional anchor that no political speech can dismiss.
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