The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called on the Federal Government to immediately release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The group made the demand on Thursday during its Imeobi and General Assembly meeting at the Ohanaeze National Secretariat in Enugu. Ohanaeze President-General, Chief Senator John Azuta-Mbata, declared that Kanu’s continued detention was not just about one man but the entire Igbo nation. “Kanu is in Sokoto prison after his conviction for treason. But I have told the government that the man in jail is not just Nnamdi Kanu – it is the entire Igboland that is there,” Mbata said. He stressed that no Igbo person is happy with the situation. “There is no Igbo man that is happy that Kanu is in incarceration. Let our people stop deceiving the federal government,” he added. Mbata warned the government against being swayed by politicians promising Igbo votes in future elections, insisting that the release of Kanu must come first. “We’re calling on the government of Tinubu to release Kanu. This is the minimal demand of Ndi Igbo,” he stated firmly. The Ohanaeze leader, however, welcomed the ongoing discussion on the creation of additional states, describing it as a positive development receiving deserved attention. He also condemned the stereotyping of Igbo people and urged Ndigbo both at home and in the diaspora to remain law-abiding and respectful of their host communities. “The diaspora people, your representation matters. Let your actions reflect the values we hold dear in Igbo land. It is wrong for Igbo to go to other people’s homes and behave as if there are no core values that our people prioritise,” Mbata said. He reminded Igbo people abroad that the values and behaviour they display outside should mirror what is acceptable at home. On the preservation of Igbo identity, Mbata placed strong emphasis on language and culture, describing them as the fabric that binds Ndigbo together. He referenced a recent UNESCO report that listed the Igbo language as endangered and declining. “Let us promote it in our homes, in our schools, in our communities. Our language is our identity. Let us preserve it for prosperity,” he urged. To address the threat, Ohanaeze has already endowed Professorial chairs of Igbo language and culture in four universities and plans to award more scholarships for the study of the language. The organisation is also developing online Igbo language schools on its website to reach children of Ndigbo in the diaspora. In closing, Mbata charged Igbo politicians to be bold, visionary and accountable, warning that the people are watching and history will judge them by their actions. The demand for Kanu’s release comes amid growing calls from various Igbo groups for the federal government to resolve what many see as one of the most sensitive issues in the South-East.