Nnamdi Kanu: S’East Govs risk Travel bans and Penalties, U.S. Military Veterans warn

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Due to their alleged complicity in the ongoing detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB, Southeast governors face a range of US presidential sanctions, including travel bans and asset confiscations on US soil, according to American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID).

This warning follows the governors’ alleged unwillingness to write a joint letter, as demanded by President Bola Ahmed, asking for Kanu’s release.

AVID, a group of retired and active Igbo military officers in the North and South American armed forces, reminded the governors of the serious consequences of their careless attitude toward Kanu’s continued incarceration.

In a statement, its president, Chief Dr. Sylvester Onyia, and secretary, Dr. Godson Obiagwu, expressed displeasure at the governors’ unwillingness to forward the aforementioned letter to the president and accused them of being non-committal towards Kanu’s release.

Part of the statement read, “According to the information we have, the Governors are supposed to meet with the President and unanimously advocate for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release, which has yet to occur.

“We also know that Mr President has asked the Southeast Governors to
write a formal letter seeking the release of their son, which they all find difficult to do.

“We are also aware that all meaningful initiatives, particularly by religious leaders and national and state players, have been frustrated by the same Governors.

“Even after the Nigerian appeals court pronounced Mazi Nnamdi Kanu not guilty, the Governors remained silent, confirming their complicity.

“Your Excellencies, as the USA Military Veterans of Igbo Descent, we must make you aware that the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu mirrors the sort of grave human rights violations sanctionable by the US government under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which was enacted to punish violators of internationally recognized human rights.

“The Act empowers the President
of the United States to impose sanctions against foreign officials complicit in “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights,” against persons for exercising internationally recognized rights to freedom of expression or association, among other things.

“The range of presidential sanctions includes denial of visas, blocking transactions in all property in the United States, and public stigma.

“Therefore, when the time comes for it, your inaction in seeking the release of Nnamdi Kanu may make you
complicit and thus subject to the full consequences of this Act should you come in contact with the United
States which you do very often.”

The governors were warned by the veterans not to take a backseat on issues that are significant to the Igbo people.

“As AVID USA, we cannot stand by and let Southeast Governors devastate Igboland by selfishness and a lack of motivation to advance our region.

“As a group, we attempted multiple times to persuade these Governors that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was justified, in his stands on security and social
economic development of Southeast.

“Keep in mind that you Governors proscribed IPOB, while previous President Buhari labelled this wonderful
organization a terrorist movement due to his enmity with the Igbo people. For this reason, we can’t blame the President for the insecurity in the Southeast region.”

Additionally, the veterans urged President Tinubu to cease seeking justifications and free Kanu in accordance with the agreement his son Seyi made with Kanu’s family prior to the 2023 presidential election.

According to AVID, President Tinubu should keep his campaign pledge to free Kanu.

““We, the American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent, (AVID) concur with Prince Emmanuel Kanu’s position on the implementation of the agreement between the family of Nnamdi Kanu and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through his son Seyi.

“We also concur with the concerned Igbo Ministers’ Commission over the recent news announcement that, “The continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a betrayal of Igbo nation….”

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