U.S.-Based Group Accuses South-East Governors of Neglecting Kanu’s Release, Igbo People’s Concerns

A United States–based advocacy group, Ambassadors for Self Determination USA, has faulted political leaders from Nigeria’s South-East, accusing them of deliberately failing to address the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as well as wider concerns affecting the region.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mazi Evans Nwankwo, the group reacted to comments credited to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in which he reportedly stated that President Bola Tinubu has “defied all agitations from Biafra.”
The organization described Umahi’s remarks as a troubling acknowledgment of what it called a sustained effort to suppress the aspirations of the Biafran people. It alleged that the comments exposed the role of certain Igbo political leaders in advancing what it termed the subjugation of the region, urging the Igbo nation to reassess its choices between continued submission and the pursuit of self-determination.
Ambassadors for Self Determination USA further argued that responsibility for the current situation should not be placed solely on external forces, but also on elected officials from the region, whom it accused of emerging from a flawed political system. The group criticized specific policies and actions of some South-East leaders, describing them as counterproductive and harmful to the interests of the people they represent.
According to the statement, these leaders were accused of working against the cause of Biafra and of collaborating with political actors at the federal level to sustain the detention of Nnamdi Kanu. The group referenced comments previously attributed to former Kano State Governor and APC Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, to support its claim that Igbo politicians had intentionally withdrawn support for Kanu, thereby discouraging intervention from outside the region.
The organization maintained that expectations for these political figures to advocate for Kanu’s release were misplaced, insisting that they were central to his continued detention. It described the situation as one in which a small group of individuals allegedly holds the fate of millions, driven by personal political ambitions within the Nigerian system.
The statement also alleged that governors from the South-East only attained office after pledging opposition to Kanu and the Biafra movement, a condition it claimed was imposed by powerful interests in Abuja. It argued that internal betrayal posed a greater challenge to the region than opposition from other parts of the country, interpreting Umahi’s comments about governance beyond “sentiments” as justification for suppressing the rights of the people under the guise of national unity.
Calling for action, Ambassadors for Self Determination USA urged Biafrans to recognize and distance themselves from leaders it described as internal adversaries. The group advised against participation in what it termed flawed electoral processes ahead of 2027, warning that such exercises often result in violence without meaningful outcomes.
It further stated that while authorities might attempt to override sit-at-home protests by reopening markets, supporters of the Biafra cause should focus on long-term strategies to prevent the return of certain political figures to power.
In its conclusion, the organization asserted that the quest for Biafra remains rooted in the will of the people rather than in federal institutions. It called for unity, careful planning, and determination, insisting that the movement would endure despite what it described as betrayal from within.