Babajide Otitoju reacts to UN’s call for Nnamdi Kanu’s release

The recent call by the United Nations, for the release of Nnamdi Kanu has continued to generate mixed reactions from Nigerians. Recall that in the wake of this call, a coalition of 52 Northern Groups had rejected it and accused the UN of bias in its disposition towards certain regions of the country, while also noting that it will fuel insecurity in the country.

However, while reacting to this call on ‘Issues with Jide’, a politics programme aired by TVC news, Babajide Kolade-otitoju explained that the call needed to be understood properly. He said the reaction of the 52 Northern Groups was part of piling pressure on the government to believe that it has done nothing wrong in detaining Kanu and allowing his case to go on.

The investigative journalist said thus:

“I think the bone of contention is the manner Nnamdi Kanu was forcibly brought to Nigeria from Kenya. The action of the UN has to be understood, they were not concerned with the negative things attributed to Kanu but the manner of the extradition itself. By seizing someone from a hotel room, violating what the UN frowns at, the Federal government stands indicted. How for example, would anyone feel if the Americans having established a case against Abba Kyari decided to use military might and storm Nigeria like paratroopers and seize Abba Kyari and take him away.

There has to be an extradition trial and that trial did not happen. This is why the UN is not happy with the Federal government and the Kenyan government, hence the indictment. I think the Federal government should address that Kanu was involved in terrorism”.