Why Osinbajo Did Not Invite Nnamdi Kanu To His Meeting With South-East Leaders - Presidency Reveals

Babafemi Ojudu, a special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, has said leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu was not invited for the meeting with the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo because he is not considered as a South-East leader of thought.

Osinbajo had last week met with some leaders of the South-East over issues of agitation from the region and quit notice Arewa youths issued Igbos to vacate North but Kanu was missing.

Speaking on Sunday, Ojudu said;

“Well, the thing is that we were looking for leaders of the people, leaders of thought and we do not see him as a leader of thought in the east. 

“May be opportunity will come at one time or the other for him to be engaged. 

“But so far, what we have done is to look at people who have influence in the communities, whether it is religious, whether it is traditional, whether it is political, social or governance. These are the people we brought in for discussion.”

The Presidential aide disclosed that the agitation for secession and calls for referendum being pushed by IPOB were not discussed during the meeting. He said,

“Nobody has tabled that in all the discussions we have had. Nobody, I can tell you. Ohanaeze came with a prepared document. They never talked about referendum. They never. They never even talked about secession. 

“They made complaints about police harassment at road blocks. They made complaints about losing some key positions, not being appointed into security positions and all those kinds of things. 

“And these are things that can easily be addressed. Nobody canvassed secession at those meetings, nobody canvassed referendum.”