Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, has once again appealed to the Federal Government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, insisting it is “the right thing to do.”

Mbah made the call on Monday, July 25, while speaking at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu.

Responding to a participant who urged him to remain firm on his advocacy, the governor revealed that his first official meeting with President Bola Tinubu after assuming office centered on Kanu’s detention.

“My first visit to the President was about Nnamdi Kanu. I believe the right thing to do is to release him. Hopefully, that will be done soon,” he said.

The governor further pointed out that the notorious Monday sit-at-home protest, which paralysed economic activities in Enugu for years, has now been brought to an end. According to him, markets, businesses, and offices now operate freely, a development he credited to his administration’s security interventions.

“When we came in, people were forced to stay home every Monday. Today, Ogbete and other markets are open, people are trading in peace, and Monday sit-at-home has ended in Enugu. You can move around and see for yourself,” Mbah added.

Kanu, who has been in Federal Government custody since July 2021 following his arrest in Kenya, is standing trial in Abuja on terrorism-related charges, which he has denied.

Beyond Kanu’s case, Governor Mbah used the platform to share his vision for Enugu and his administration’s strategies for transformation. He explained that leadership requires the courage to challenge low expectations and embrace disruptive ideas.

According to him, Enugu’s economic vision is to expand the state’s GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, eliminate poverty, and position the state as Nigeria’s leading hub for business, tourism, and quality living.

He stressed that these targets depend on strong security, hence his government’s heavy investment in a tech-driven, intelligence-led security system anchored at a central Command and Control Centre. The governor noted that this approach, backed by AI-powered surveillance, integrated response units, and community partnerships, has cut violent crime in the state by more than 80 percent.

Mbah also highlighted over 2,000 ongoing or completed projects across health, roads, transport, agriculture, and education. He said dedicating 33 percent of the state’s budget to education was a deliberate move to strengthen human capital for long-term growth.

“Some thought we were reckless for allocating over a third of our budget to education. But we knew it was necessary, because our real wealth lies in the quality of our people,” he said.