A former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has revealed that ministers and other government officials familiar with the President Muhammadu Buhari, said he takes his promise to consider the release of Nnamdi Kanu seriously.

Ezeife made this known on Monday when he featured on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show.’

The ex-Anambra governor and some respected Igbo elders, led by Minister of Aviation in the First Republic, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, had visited Buhari in Aso Rock on Friday and requested the unconditional release of the detained leader of the proscribed secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra.

Buhari had told them he would not want to interfere in the running of the judiciary but said he would consider their demand though “a heavy one.”

Speaking on the television programme today, Ezeife thanked Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who “negotiated the appointment” with the President and Amechi who “not only led us but apply to the President to allow us.”

He said the Igbo leaders spoke with those close to Buhari after the meeting and they said the President’s body language was positive.

“We talked to people who are familiar with the President after the meeting and they told us that from the body language of the President, he took us very seriously and we should take his promise to look into it very seriously also. We are very quite happy and I must say.

“We asked the ministers and those who work with the President and we asked them what should we go home with and they said we should be hopeful and we are hopeful,” he said.

The 83-year-old Igbo elder, who was an elected governor of Anambra State between 1992 and 1993, also said Buhari can mount some pressure on the judiciary to achieve the release of Kanu.

“We have separation of powers – executive, judiciary and the legislature…the judiciary can say something but if the President applies pressure on any of the sectors of governance, normally some good results would come out,” he said.

(The PUNCH)

•President Muhammadu Buhari with Igbo leaders led by First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of Aviation, Mbazulike Amaechi (seated) at the State House, Abuja

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