A traditional ruler from the South-East, Eze Lawrence Agubuzu, has urged President Bola Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, or return him to Kenya, where he was arrested.
Agubuzu, who is the Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom in Enugu State, made the appeal on Tuesday at the 2026 National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health held at the State House, Abuja, with President Tinubu in attendance as Special Guest of Honour.
Addressing the President during the segment for remarks by traditional rulers, the monarch said the continued incarceration of Kanu was fuelling agitation among youths in the South-East.
“I must tell you, Mr President, that personally, I don’t feel very happy,” he said, noting that the situation in the South-East had become increasingly tense.
Referring to earlier speeches at the summit which emphasised unity and national cohesion, Agubuzu said genuine reconciliation would be difficult while Kanu remained in detention.
“The ball stops in your court. Bring this man out. If we don’t want him in Nigeria, return him to Kenya or London, where they took him from,” he said.
According to him, traditional rulers in the region face growing hostility from youths who accuse them of failing to speak out.
“Some of us here are being asked to go and work, but the young people in the South-East are so agitated that they can even beat us. They see us as sellouts. We come to Abuja — they may think we’ve come to collect money and then keep quiet,” he added.
Agubuzu also questioned the structure of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council, insisting that “there is nothing like a Southern Traditional Rulers Council” representing the entire South.
He warned against allocating resources through a body he claimed did not reflect the region’s diversity of traditional institutions.
“If you want to deal with us, deal with us in the South-East. If you have resources for us, give them to us. Don’t give it to people who come and say they represent a traditional rulers council,” he said.
However, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, dismissed claims of disunity, describing the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council as optional but formidable.
He said membership of the council was voluntary and maintained that traditional rulers across the South were working together.
“You don’t need to join us if you don’t want to, but it is a force — a formidable force — among traditional institutions,” he said, adding that there was no division among southern monarchs.
Similarly, the Eze Aro IX, Dr Eberechukwu Oji, who identified himself as the council’s Publicity Secretary, said the body was inaugurated in Oyo State and had since remained active, holding its annual general meeting in Ogun State and undertaking joint initiatives.
The summit, convened by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, brought together traditional and religious leaders from across the country to endorse ongoing health sector reforms.
In her keynote address, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, urged traditional and religious leaders to support the National Community Food Bank Programme, which she said would be rolled out nationwide in April. She formally flagged off the programme.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the gathering as the first comprehensive engagement with traditional and religious leaders since the commencement of health sector reforms over two years ago.
