From Abubakar Gwadabe
Former Anambra State Governor and immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider a political solution to the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Ngige urged the Federal Government to either release Kanu to southeastern leaders or hand him over to the British authorities.
Ngige made the appeal on Thursday while narrating how his convoy was attacked by gunmen on Wednesday.
He spoke when the 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, paid him a sympathy visit at his country home in Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The former governor described the attack as “unprovoked and disturbing,” recounting how one woman was killed and his police orderly shot in the leg during the incident.
He explained that his aides were returning from a routine errand when they ran into armed men dressed in police and military uniforms.
“As you can see, I am alive; I am not dead. My convoy was attacked around Umuoji. They reversed, chased my aides, and opened fire,” Ngige said.
“They dispossessed my orderly of his rifle and uniform after he exhausted his bullets. They told the policemen they were serving a ‘zoo government.’”
He expressed concern that the attackers appeared to be part of a coordinated group targeting police officers to seize arms and uniforms.
Ngige said he had already briefed Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who assured him that security agencies would track down the assailants.
On whether the incident was targeted, Ngige noted that his pilot driver is widely recognized and has driven him for over 22 years. However, he said the attackers may have simply been on a mission to disarm policemen.
Responding to the gunmen’s comments referencing IPOB and recent court judgments involving Nnamdi Kanu, Ngige renewed his call for a political resolution to the matter.
“Kanu’s case needs a political solution. I discussed this with former President Buhari, and Governor Soludo has also offered to take him.
If the government won’t release him to us, they should release him to Britain,” he said.
Ngige suggested that Kanu may be exhibiting symptoms requiring psychiatric evaluation, arguing that such conditions often influence judicial outcomes.
Mr. Peter Obi, during his visit, thanked God for Ngige’s safety and condoled with the family of the woman killed while recording the incident.
