By Austin Ogwuda
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that the Federal Government under his watch had the option to eliminate the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, but decided that bringing him back to Nigeria to face trial was the best option for all parties and an act of favour too.
This startling revelation was contained in a book recently published, authored by Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina.
Adesina narrated how a group known as Highly-Respected Igbo Greats, led by Mbazulike Ameachi, a First Republic Minister of Aviation, pleaded with the former President Buhari to release Kanu and the response he gave them.
Buhari was quoted saying according to the book that “In the past six years, I have developed a system in which I don’t interfere with the judiciary. Let him make his case in court instead of giving a terrible impression of the country from outside. That was why in the case of Kanu, I said the best was to subject him to the system.
“I feel it is a favour to give him (Kanu) that opportunity. Government could have mobilized to eliminate him where he was, but we did not do that.
“You have made an extremely difficult demand on me as the leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years, nobody will say I have confronted the judiciary.
“We are developing a country, and we have to go through the pains. The demand you have made is heavy, but I will consider it. I am glad to know you closely at this time,” Buhari was quoted saying.
Credit: Politics Nigeria