Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied claims of collaborating with the South East Governors to secure the release of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the South East governors met in Enugu to discuss plans to meet with President Bola Tinubu to request Kanu’s release, believing that it would promote peace in the region.

According to Hope Uzodimma, the Imo state governor and chairman of the South East Governors' Forum (SEGF), who read the communique to journalists after the meeting, they also met with the former president.

However, Obasanjo has denied these claims, stating that Kanu’s release was not discussed during the meeting.

In a statement released on Wednesday, July 3, Obasanjo's special assistant on media, Kehinde Akinyemi, said the meeting focused on regional development issues, such as security and infrastructure.

It was revealed that the meeting aimed to discuss ways to promote regional development, with attendees exploring various strategies to achieve this objectives.

The statement reads: “Others were economic and cooperative/collaboration, which was meant to complement the national economic development agenda.”

“The meeting with them was at my invitation and of Chief Emeka Anyaoku before their summit begins. The issue of Nnamdi Kanu was not on the agenda and was not discussed in my presence.”