By joshua 
Uxo Nwogu
President Muhammadu Buhari, has said he will consider the unconditional release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a statement said the President made the commitment on Friday when he hosted Igbo leaders led by a former Minister of Aviation, Pa Mbazulike Amaechi.
Other Igbo leaders in attendance included a former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, the Co-Chair, Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace, Bishop Sunday Onuoha also of the Methodist Church, Chief Goddy Uwazurike and Mr Tagbo Amaechi.
Federal Government officials who were present during the visit were: The Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; the National Security Adviser, (NSA) Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.); the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama and the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajuiba.
Buhari said he will consider the unconditional release of Kanu, though, according to him, such a decision contradicts the doctrine of Separation of Powers between the executive and the judiciary.
Buhari said, “You’ve made an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years, since I became President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the judiciary.
“God has spared you, and given you a clear head at this age, with very sharp memory. A lot of people half your age are confused already. But the demand you made is heavy. I will consider it.”
Buhari remarked of his policy of non-interference with the Judiciary and said he was of the position that Kanu would subject himself to judicial process when the IPOB leader reportedly jumped bail, got arrested and was brought back to Nigeria.
Buhari said, “I said the best thing was to subject him to the system. Let him make his case in court, instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from the outside. I feel it’s even a favour to give him that opportunity.”
The President condoled with Chief Amaechi, who recently buried his wife, and prayed that her soul would rest in peace.
Amaechi, the 93-year-old statesman had told the President that the situation in the South-East was painful and pathetic.
He decried that businesses had collapsed, education was crumbling, and that there was fear everywhere.
He appealed to Buhari to adopt a political, rather than a military solution, to the problem.
He promised that if Kanu was released to him as the only First Republic Minister still alive, the IPOB leader would no longer say the things he had been saying.
The nonagenarian said he could control Kanu as he is highly respected in Igboland today and not that he has anything to do with IPOB.
Amaechi said, “I don’t want to leave this planet without peace returning to my country.
“I believe in one big, united Nigeria, a force in Africa. Mr President, I want you to be remembered as a person who saw Nigeria burning, and you quenched the fire.”