The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly criticised the governors of Anambra and Enugu states, Chukwuma Soludo and Peter Mbah, for organising elaborate receptions for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, remains in detention.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA described the ceremonies as “politically motivated” and “insensitive”, particularly in light of what the group referred to as the unjust arrest and prolonged detention of Kanu by the federal government.

President Tinubu recently visited both Enugu and Anambra states, commissioning projects and participating in state-organised events marked by pomp and pageantry.

His latest stop was in Anambra, where he was received at the Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri, by Governor Soludo and other dignitaries.

HURIWA, a pro-democracy and civil rights group, criticised the governors for failing to use the opportunity of the president’s visit to raise critical issues affecting the South-East region, especially the continued detention and trial of Nnamdi Kanu on treason and terrorism charges.

“We are not against the president visiting any part of the country,” HURIWA said.

“However, it is disturbing that governors from the South-East would organise extravagant state-funded events without addressing the insecurity and marginalisation that have plagued the region.”

The group accused Soludo and Mbah of ignoring the widespread calls for Kanu’s release, including from political and traditional leaders across the region, and of instead focusing on personal political gain.

“Chukwuma Soludo even claimed that releasing Nnamdi Kanu would not reduce insecurity in the South-East. This level of indifference is not only misguided but also betrays the trust of the people they were elected to serve,” the statement added.

HURIWA further alleged that while governors from other regions prioritise their regional interests in negotiations with the federal government, their South-East counterparts have shown little commitment to addressing the region’s developmental challenges or advocating for equitable representation in national appointments and infrastructure projects.

The group called on Southeast leaders to realign their priorities and focus on protecting the rights and interests of the Igbo people, rather than staging public events that appear to endorse the continued marginalisation and persecution of their constituents.

President Tinubu is expected to commission several projects during his Anambra visit, part of what the state government describes as a showcase of “legacy achievements” under the Soludo administration.