Okezie Ikpeazu: Nnamdi Kanu's Friend Or Foe?
Many people very unfortunately, idolize their heros when they are dead but Biafrans choose to celebrate their hero and a leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, when he is alive. He is appointed and annointed to lead the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Hate him or like him, he remains a very unique and charismatic figure. He confuses even his enemies and makes his admirers to love him the more. His recent extraordinary rendition has threw many into frenzy while others are left to speculate which end of the spectrum they really are.
Those who believe in him will however ensure that his fundamental human rights are respected. The present predicament in the Biafra restoration project with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in the DSS dungeon, should not in anyway be politicized. Story emanating from Abia State said that the government is actively monitoring the situation with the IPOB leader according to DailyPost amongst other national dailies. They all have it that Nnamdi Kanu hails from Afara-ukwu Ibeku, a community in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. He is currently under trial at a Federal High Court in Abuja and his state of origin has vowed to ensure that his fundamental human rights, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are respected. In a statement signed by Chief John Okiyi Kalu, Abia State Commissioner for Information, said the government remains in touch with “Kanu's family members, other relevant persons and institutions, and receives regular updates through them on the situation.”
But the same state government however, is kicking against any move by members and supporters of IPOB, to enforce any Sit-at-home order in the state. The government maintains that while it would not stop anyone sitting at home for any reason, it would not fold It's hands and watch as people are forced against their wish or children stopped from going to school as a result of a Sit-at-home order. “The Abia State Government is confident that the judiciary will ensure a free and manifestly fair trial for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and others, as they remain innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction,” the statement said.
"Ctizens and visitors are urged to be law abiding and to avoid any act that might lead to a breakdown of law and order. While government will not compel anyone wishing to sit at home for any reason, whosoever will not do so, as citizens have freedom of movement under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We wish to strongly advice that nobody should also compel or enforce any sit at home order from any non-state actor as doing so does not serve any known interest of the people of the state. Furthermore, compelling our children to stay away from school can only serve the interests of the yet to be properly identified persons who may not want to see us make progress as a people".
For the politicians and elites who have mortgaged the future of our unborn generation, why do they now care about us when we want to take our furture into our hands and change our narratives? What do they want us to assume when the state government makes frivolous statements like this: “Similarly, our traders sitting at home at a time they need to work very hard to sustain their families and create wealth especially in this era of Covid-19 impacted global economy, will obviously not serve any purpose for our hardworking citizens".
“All law abiding citizens and visitors are therefore called upon to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation as adequate security has been provided to ensure their safety. Parents and guardians are also called upon to ensure that they monitor the activities of their children and wards with a view to ensuring that they do not engage in unlawful activities that will put them in harms way".
After all the writings, one still wonders what they really think the masses are? Why will a government, led by a PhD holder, be politicking anytime a serious issue is at hand? It can be vividly remembered also, the senseless utterance of the same Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, in a video, on the 10th of July 2021, where he told the Nigerian government to "jail Nnamdi kanu or send him back to the United Kingdom", after his kidnap with the help of their Kenyan counterparts in the month of May, 2021.
Recall also, prior to that statement that the governor had stated that "he would want to seat and talk with Nnamdi Kanu".
Upon all these political statements from the Abia State governor, he has not even drew close to Abuja, let alone visiting his acclaimed citizen that is presently in DSS custody, for once. If Nnamdi Kanu will get a fair hearing that is his fundamental human right as clearly enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, should answer if the action of the officials of the Department of Security Services on July 26, respected Kanu's constitutional human right.
Did Okezie Ikpeazu and Chief John Okiyi Kalu, his Information Commissioner, ever speak up against the show of shame and justice delay tactics being adopted by the Nigerian government when Nnamdi Kanu was not brought to court as expected? Did they speak up when the Nigerian military came to assassinate him in the month of September 2017? They never did but rather, took to the smear campaign of jumping bail.
Why does the Okezie led administration that cannot boost of providing infrastructural development that will positively impact on the lives of the people, be always politicking with even the destiny of the citizens? How does hypocrisy and democratic politics synchronize? Let it be made clear hear that something punitive might possibly have happen if the "Ghost Town" order had not been proposed since civil protests in Nigeria has now become a crime. The Nigerian government will never ever trust anyone that is engaged in the betrayal of his/her people. A true notice should therefore be served herefrom, to all and sundry that the kidnapping and betrayal of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, are in no way, rewarding.
Politics should not be played with the sensibility of the people. Nnamdi Kanu's life greatly matters and Biafra defiantly remains our future and our life.
Written by Onyemachi Gabriel
Edited by Vivian Ezihie
For Family Writers Press International
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