In a bold and emotionally charged public statement, popular Nigerian businessman and socialite, Obinna Iyiegbu, better known as Obi Cubana, has made a direct plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally intervene and facilitate the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The Anambra-born entrepreneur, who commands a massive following both online and offline, insisted that lasting peace, stability, and emotional tranquility among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria—and by extension, the entire country—cannot be achieved until Kanu walks free.
Posting on his verified social media handles, Obi Cubana painted a grim picture of the current state of the nation, citing a string of disturbing events that he believes have pushed Nigeria to the brink. He highlighted the recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the United States Department of State over religious freedom violations and persecution of minorities, the rampant abduction of schoolchildren across northern and central states, deadly attacks on churches and mosques, the shocking assassination of a serving Brigadier General, and what he described as the unjust continued detention and sentencing of Nnamdi Kanu despite widespread calls for political resolution. Taken together, the businessman said these incidents have created an atmosphere of deep anxiety, anger, and hopelessness across the land.
“No Nigerian is at peace right now,” Obi Cubana wrote, “but for the Igbo nation in particular, one thing is crystal clear: no Igbo man or woman will have genuine peace if Mazi Nnamdi Kanu does not regain his freedom. Ala Igbo (Igboland) will never be the same again until he is released.”
The nightlife and hospitality mogul, who rose to national prominence after his lavish mother’s burial in 2021, revealed that he is not speaking in isolation. According to him, he and several other prominent Nigerians from the southeast and beyond have held high-level closed-door meetings with influential political office holders, including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, to discuss the deteriorating security situation and the specific issue of Nnamdi Kanu’s detention. While he did not disclose details of those conversations, he stressed that the consensus among Igbo leaders and stakeholders remains unanimous: Kanu’s continued incarceration is a major stumbling block to reconciliation and healing in the region.
“Tempers are high, emotions are raw, but the demand is simple and consistent—we want Mazi Nnamdi Kanu released,” he stated. “We will never rest, we will never relent, and we will keep speaking with one voice until justice is done.”
Obi Cubana was careful, however, to strike a conciliatory tone amid the strong emotions. He acknowledged the right to agitate for better governance and self-determination, describing “constructive agitations” as “the bedrock upon which great societies are built.” Yet he emphasized that the ultimate path to resolution lies not in endless confrontation but in dialogue. “Solutions,” he insisted, “will only be found at the negotiation table.”
The businessman’s public intervention comes at a time when the agitation for Kanu’s release has refused to die down, even four years after his rearrest and extraordinary rendition from Kenya in June 2021. Despite various court rulings—including a 2022 Court of Appeal decision that discharged and acquitted him on all charges—the federal government has continued to detain him, citing national security concerns and ongoing legal processes. Kanu faces charges of treasonable felony, terrorism, and running an unlawful society, accusations his supporters dismiss as politically motivated.
In recent months, several prominent voices from the southeast—governors, senators, traditional rulers, clergy, and now high-profile businessmen—have added their voices to the growing chorus calling for a political rather than judicial solution. Many believe that releasing Kanu would significantly calm tensions in the southeast, reduce the activities of unknown gunmen, and restore confidence in the Tinubu administration among Ndigbo.
Obi Cubana’s statement has since gone viral, sparking thousands of reactions across social media platforms. While many Igbo youths and IPOB sympathizers hailed him as a courageous voice speaking truth to power, others criticized him for allegedly trivializing a serious political matter or for waiting until now to speak out. Supporters of the government’s hardline stance, meanwhile, accused him of indirectly endorsing separatism.
Regardless of the polarized reactions, one thing remains undeniable: the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu remains one of the most emotionally charged issues in Nigeria today. With each passing month, more influential figures appear willing to lend their platforms to the demand for his release, framing it not as a favor to IPOB but as a necessary step toward national healing and stability.
Whether President Bola Tinubu will heed this latest high-profile appeal from one of Nigeria’s most celebrated young entrepreneurs remains to be seen. But for millions in the southeast and beyond who share Obi Cubana’s sentiment, true peace will continue to feel elusive until Mazi Nnamdi Kanu breathes the air of freedom again.
