By Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, PhD.
One of the falsehoods that has gained the most traction among my people of Igbo land with regards to the legitimate and necessary prosecution of Nnamdi Kanu is; “If Nnamdi Kanu were not Igbo, he would have been released.” As beautiful and compelling as this piece of propaganda statement sounds, it remains a lie. There have been, and there are still many non-Igbos who are standing trial, and who have been convicted for offences similar or even less serious than what Nnamdi Kanu is being prosecuted for.
For context, I will need to remind us that Nnamdi Kanu is directly linked to the many incidents of atrocious criminality and terror that have pervaded the Southeast in the last one decade. His broadcasts and video statements issuing commands for the destruction of my fatherland, Alaigbo, are still available on the internet. Nnamdi Kanu never pretended to be a peaceful agitator, but a violent and uncouth terrorist, who rose to notoriety through hate and racist speeches against our brothers from other tribes, including; Fulanis, Hausas, Yorubas, Ijaws, etc. He eventually graduated into a full-blown terrorist, by establishing the illegal Eastern Security Network and other pro-Biafra terrorist groups. Let me State categorically that Nnamdi Kanu is not motivated by any altruistic or even tribalist sentiment, but by his own personal desires for financial, political and social aggrandisement.
There have been people like him in the past and even currently, who attempted to wage a war against the sovereign Nigerian State, while there have been some of them, including, Igbos, who were granted pardon or amnesty, there are many who are currently facing prosecution and others who are already serving prison sentences.
Henry and his brother, Charles Orkah are serving various prison sentences in South Africa and Nigeria respectively after their conviction for terrorist and arms smuggling offences. Henry was or is still the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND). They were accused of complicity in many terrorist and sabotage activities, including, the infamous October 1st Independence Day bombing in Abuja.
More than 100 Boko Haram commanders and fighters have been convicted of various offences and currently serving jail terms in various prisons across Nigeria. These include the mastermind of the Christmas Day bombing in Madalla, Kabiru Sokoto and many others. While Kabiru Sokoto and other Boko Haram commanders might qualify as mere lieutenants of the real founders of the group, Nnamdi Kanu is at the same level as the founder of the group, Mohammed Yusuf and his successor, Abubakar Shekau, both of whom have long met their waterloo.
Just yesterday, Tukur Mamu, a negotiator for the bandits who attacked a train along the Kaduna -Abuja rail line, was refused bail for the third time, after he requested to be granted bail on health grounds. Tukur Mamu has been in detention for close to four years, and he is yet to be convicted.
Sunday Igboho was declared wanted in Nigeria, but he fled the country and on his way to Germany with his German citizen wife was apprehended and sent to prison in Benin Republic where he spent over one year before he was released under some conditions. He remains a Wanted Suspect by the Nigerian State and has largely kept a low profile and his group has, more or less become defunct.
Among those who are currently enjoying the federal government amnesty program is Mr. Ralph Uwazurike, the founder of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Asari Dokubo, Tompolo, and a few others. I cannot readily remember the name of any top Northern bandits or terrorist founders who are currently enjoying a federal government granted amnesty program. I mean, terrorist or secessionist leaders in the class of Nnamdi Kanu. Please remind me if you know of any.
When anyone tells you that if Nnamdi Kanu was from another tribe, he would have been released, tell that person that it is not true, based on verifiable records, not sentiments.
Even Kanu enjoyed some kind of amnesty in 2017, when Southeast political leaders came together and ensured that he was released on bail. We must not forget that his bail in 2017 could have been appealed by the FG, thereby, keeping him in detention beyond that time, but it was political interventions that ensured he was granted bail under court ordered conditions, which he flouted all, before fleeing the country.
Some people argue that he flouted these bail conditions because of pressure from his lieutenants in IPOB, but when he escaped out of the country, he had an opportunity to rethink his strategies, but he got worse and became even more combative. It was after that, that he set up the ESN, ordered the dismantling of all security stations in the Southeast and beheading of any member of the Nigerian Armed Forces found in the Southeast, encouraged the EndSars protestors to become violent and loot police and Army armoury, etc.
Any agitation built solely on falsehood and hate is immoral and will not have the slightest chance of success. IPOB and most of the later day Biafran agitations are mere business enterprises built on barefaced lies, propaganda and hate. The Federal Government is trying to save the Southeast from the destruction planned for it by Nnamdi Kanu and his goons, and every patriotic Igbo must align fully with the Federal Government to ensure his speedy trial.
MAY ALAIGBO HEAL!