From Petrus Obi, Enugu
Igbo statesman and publisher, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, yesterday in Enugu, declared that all Igbo were Biafrans.
He stressed that it was not an offence for anyone to agitate for Biafra.
The Imo-born politician who paid a condolence visit to the family of Prof. Godwin Odenigwe in Udi, Enugu State maintained that IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu never committed any offence to warrant his arrest and detention.
“I have always said there was no reason detaining Kanu. In the law of this country, which I know, if somebody starts saying he/she wants Biafra, it’s not an offence. It is only when you have arms that it becomes an offence.
“Kanu didn’t commit any treason. Treason is when you take up arms against the government, he didn’t take up arms, there was no reason whatsoever for detaining him, because everybody has the right to say I want Biafra.
“I have made it clear to people that Biafra is for the Igbo. Hausas are Arewas, Yorubas are Oduduwas and we are Biafrans.
“There is a problem we have, because Biafra fought a war, people are ashamed to say they are Biafrans, but, I am not afraid to say I am a Biafran. Biafra is part of Nigeria, Arewa is part of Nigeria, Oduduwa is part of Nigeria; all of us are there.
“If a person from Odududuwa takes up arms to secede from Nigeria, it’s treason but when one is just saying it by words of mouth, it’s just ordinary expression of public opinion, there is no law that makes such a person get convicted by just saying we want to secede, it’s a right of expression.
“But, if somebody from Oduduwa, Arewa or Biafra is amassing arms to topple the government to secede, it’s treason.
“If I say I want Biafra, it’s no offence. To the best of my knowledge, Kanu didn’t have any violent means; all he said was that he wanted Biafra.
“He shouldn’t have been detained in the first place, I said it long ago. I said the government is making him a hero but people misquoted me and said I said government should jail him.
“No, I said getting an innocent person, putting him in prison, they are making him a hero. So, Nnamdi Kanu is now a hero because of all these.
“Has not committed any offence and shouldn’t have been in detention in the first place.
“There are also some parts in Igbo land, who, since after the war, they don’t want to talk about Biafra. You cannot wish away Biafra, Biafra is there, just like you can’t wish away Oduduwa or Arewa.”