Presidency Debunks Fake News on Uzodinma Blocking Kanu’s Release by Tinubu

The Presidency on Tuesday dismissed reports that claimed that Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma was preventing President Bola Tinubu from freeing Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Tinubu, called the reports fake news.

He said in a statement that Tinubu never had a meeting with Igbo businessmen to discuss Kanu’s release.

It was reported that Tinubu said that his government’s efforts to release Kanu from prison were thwarted by Uzodinma.

Tinubu was reported to have said during the meeting that the governor gave reasons why releasing Kanu before the Imo elections was dangerous.

It was alleged that the President said, “Uzodinma told me the dangers of releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu now that the governorship election in Imo State is around the corner. My intention was to order his release a few weeks ago when our brother, Igboho, was released, but I was surprised when the Governor of Imo State approached me to reverse my decision to do so. My reason to even attempt to release him is to enable the people of the South-East geopolitical zone to have peace. The zone has witnessed major security challenges where the armed security militia, ESN, has killed several souls.”

Onanuga urged the people of Imo State to ignore the fake news against Uzodinma.

The statement read: “The fake news in circulation that Governor Hope Uzodinma is blocking the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu by President Bola Tinubu should please be disregarded by the people of Imo State.

“The fake news is clearly intended to create some resentment against the governor, who has performed well for his people and who deserves a second term in Saturday’s election.

“President Tinubu did not meet Igbo businessmen on Monday. He did not say what was attributed to him. He did not blame Gov. Uzodinma for anything.

“Sahara Reporters did not publish the fake news. The link provided did not lead to the fake news on the Sahara Reporters website.

“It’s all malicious lies by politically desperate people.