Former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has said that the issue of Biafra is a very big one in Nigeria today, adding that he is waiting for President Mohammadu Buhari’s “mind to calm down” for him to personally appeal for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
While expressing optimism that the president will give him all the needed attention on Kanu’s release, he added that the younger generation has the right to ask for Biafra, only that it should go through the right process.
The former governor was speaking in an interview with Daily Sun on Sunday, where he pointed out that people have committed more serious offences than that of Kanu.
He said, “People have committed more offences than what Nnamdi did but they were pardoned; so, I’m still going to appeal to the president, we will have a common ground very soon.
“Let’s see what will happen between now and the end of the year.
“This issue should not be rushed, the president should not be pressurised; we are talking to him informally.
Kalu disclosed that Buhari is being communicated to through various national and international communities in order to secure Kanu’s release.
He added, “We are talking to the president through the international community, we are talking to him through African presidents and we are talking to him through personal friends.
“He is going to listen, Buhari is not as hard as people think and he has a heart that flows with milk.
He said measures are ongoing for him to visit Kanu in prison soon so as to speak with him.
He said, “I will see Nnamdi Kanu in prison very soon and I will like to talk to him and I know he will listen to me.
“Nobody is saying anybody cannot talk about Biafra, you can talk about any other republic but you should not take Nigeria for granted; it’s a sovereign nation and we’ve all sworn to keep the country together.
Kalu, while pleading with Nigerians to work towards a bigger Nigeria and a stronger economy, said, “If I should have my way, we should be talking of a bigger Nigeria.
“The economic benefit of being together is very strong.
He, however, lamented that the past Federal Governments have abandoned the South-East, noting that roads and other infrastructures in the region are decaying.
He said, “Since after the war, the Federal Government has not made any investment in the entire South-East.
“But I believe the government under Buhari will do something to address this marginalisation.”