It is Hypocritical To Claim You Want The Freedom Of Nnamdi Kanu When You Willfully Undermine His Belief

  It is Hypocritical To Claim You Want The Freedom Of Nnamdi Kanu When You Willfully Undermine His Belief

Nnamdi Kanu

Alleging to desire the freedom of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra(IPOB), while outrightly denigrating his quests, is a direct insult and an act of hypocrisy; not only to the Leader of IPOB's sufferings, but to the memory of thousands of IPOB family members who have been extrajudicially killed by the high-handed Nigerian security agencies, all for the just cause of honorably servicing their people of the East.

Overtime, voices have joined in the relentless call for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. And, in line with the Appeal Court judgement on 13th October 2022, the United Nations working group resolution after his ill-conceived abduction and Extraordinary rendition from Kenya a year earlier, these voices have undoubtedly peaked recently. Political elites, Sociocultural & Sociopolitical organizations, journalists, lawyers and other personalities from all works of life are adding their voices for the Federal government to oblige the sanctity of the Nigerian Judiciary and release the Self-determination proponent, and rather seek dialogue with him in addressing the grievances behind his agitations.

However, whilst some of these personalities and Institutions from the East have in recent times publicly called on the government to release the IPOB Leader, they had simultaneously downplayed the reason and cause for which he is being incarceration. Most do openly acknowledge that there is a grave Political and Economic marginalization of the region and its people, yet see no need for a referendum in the region for the people to decide on their future, which is what Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB trust to be most appropriate for the region.

Such position is not only deceptive, but also obscene.

Recall that on 5th October 2023 after the hearing of Kanu's case at the Nigerian Supreme Court in Abuja, the IPOB leader through his legal representatives announced his openness to discussions, towards reaching an agreement with the Nigerian government on the Referendum demands for the people of the Old Eastern region to decide if they wish to continue in the almagamated Nigeria of 1914. The IPOB leadership also reaffirmed same by issuing a press statement in line with the leader's assertions, further stating that the movement would be disbanded if after the referendum, the people voted against a breakaway from Nigeria.

This position explicited above is not newly found. Since the very inception of IPOB in 2012, the movement have been quite expressively vocal in her demands for a peaceful and internationally supervised referendum. But, the successive Nigerian governments have failed to address these issues, rather enacted and marshalled out aggressive belligerent policies to quail the Movement's quest, with the approval of certain corrupt political elites from the Eastern region.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been consistent and uncompromising in the demands for the people's good all these years, up until this moment, even in the face of severe and immense pain, as he is secluded in solitary confinement walls of the Nigeria Secret service otherwise known as DSS.In practical terms the ordeal of the IPOB leader and IPOB movement are predicated by the need and drive to offer to the people of the East what their selectively imposed political and sociocultural elites have failed to offer them in the form of social amenities, meaningful infrastructural development and real politcal inclusivity, for over half a century in Nigeria. 

Kanu and his IPOB have a strong belief on the concept of true democracy which revolves basically around the opinion of the people. And, the globally accepted means to get these opinions are via; credible elections, Civil protests and Referendums. But, Nigeria which is oftentimes referred to as the largest Democracy in Africa, does not want to respect that. Whereas Countries under millitary rule like Mali or the Central African republic, Niger etc whom by western clause are regarded as 'undemocratic', nonetheless organizes and conducts referendum for public ratification.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on different occasions in yesteryears had called for civil election boycotts (although were lifted), which was comprehensively and willfully observed by the people. This is far and large, a litmus testimony to establish that his demands are not selfishly driven, rather a reflection of the people's thought process, which they have overtime been bamboozled to internalize as such would appear offensive to their fellow but ranking Nigeria citizens. 

 

So, instead of people trying to connect some government sponsored criminality in the East to Nnamdi Kanu's detention and base their calls for his release on that, these individuals should be rather sensitive and retrospective to the quest of the IPOB leader and his movement. Else, such calls for his freedom stands questionable.

 

Written By Enenienwite Ikechukwu

Edited by Ogah C S Maduabuchi 

For Family Writers Press International