Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, stepped down an amendment motion on Thursday seeking the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Rep. Ginger Onwusibe (LP-Abia) made the recommendation following a motion by Rep. Eze Nwachukwu Eze (PDP-Ebonyi) in Abuja during plenary.
Eze had moved a motion titled “Need to Forestall Further Killings in Ebonyi Local Government Area, and the Rising Insecurity in Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State”.
However, Onwusibe, who represents Isiala Ngwa North in Abia State, asked the House to amend the motion to ensure Kanu’s release and put an end to the disturbing cases of killings in the country’s southeast.
Kanu had been detained by the Department of State Security (DSS) despite a court order to release him.
In his motion, Eze urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to consult with political, traditional, and religious leaders in Ebonyi State and the South East.
This, he claims, is to find a long-term solution to the insecurity in the South East.
He also urged the Acting Inspector General of Police to deploy Armoured Personnel Carriers to strategic locations throughout Ebonyi State in order to prevent future attacks.
He also urged the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to ensure effective policing in the Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency, other South-East states, and throughout the country.
He also urged the Nigeria Police Force to train vigilantes in intelligence gathering and effective community policing.
He requested that the House direct the newly formed Committee on Police Affairs to make budgetary provisions for the Nigeria Police Force to acquire more combat helicopters.
This is to ensure proper surveillance of the South-East States and Nigeria in general, according to him.
However, an amendment to the motion to include Nnamdi Kanu’s release was rejected and deferred by the Speaker, who stated that the subject should not be included in the motion on the Ebonyi killings.
However, Onwusibe stated that Kanu’s prolonged detention caused the insecurity and that the government should consider releasing him to restore peace to the region.
The amendment, however, was rejected by Rep Ibrahim Halims, Deputy Leader of the House, who stated that “matters like that are always determined by court and not by parliamentary decision.”
Rep. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, stated in his contribution that Onwusibe’s motion was to find an amicable solution to the Kanu issue.
He went on to say that the amendment’s prayer should be to urge Mr President to use any other diplomatic or political approach to find a long-term solution to this problem.
According to him, “Those of us from the region know where the shoe is pinching us.”
In his ruling, Abbas said, “This is a topical issue, my ruling on this is that I will defer ruling on this at this particular time and I will invite both the minority and majority leaders.
This, according to him, is to consult and see what the point of the law says before he makes his position known.
“So while I rule on other motions and amendments that have been proposed, that particular one is suspended for ruling next week after due consultation.”