Femi Adesina, a former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that the then-president opted for the rendition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu when his administration could have assassinated him.
In his book titled, ‘Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023),’ which was recently launched in Abuja, Adesina said chose to spare Kanu’s life when his government could have killed him.
The secessionist leader has been agitating for the separate state of Biafra.
According to the former presidential aide, Buhari disclosed this during a meeting he had with a delegation of some Igbo elders, who had pleaded for the release of Kanu following his extraordinary rendition and detention in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.
“In the past six years, I have developed a system where in which I don’t interfere with the judiciary,” Adesina quoted Buhari as saying.
“That was why in the case of Kanu, I said the best was to subject him to the system.
“Let him make his case in court instead of giving a terrible impression of the country from outside.
“I feel it is a favour to give him (Kanu) that opportunity. Government could have mobilised to eliminate him where he was, but we did not do that.”
Following his rendition from Kenya in June 2021, Kanu has faced trial for terrorism-related charges.
