From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Following the landmark judgment of October 13, 2022, by the Federal Court of Appeals sitting in Abuja that discharged and acquitted Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), members of the organisation have urged South East governors and other Igbo leaders to immediately prevail on the federal government for his release from custody.
IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful said it was necessary to enable Kanu to regain his freedom and attend to his health issues.
Powerful has also asked the governors and the stakeholders to eschew fear and take the bold step to negotiate for Kanu’s release.
“The silence from South East governors and political leadership gives room for concern,” the spokesperson stated.
“We, the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, under the command and leadership of our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, are compelled to ask Igbo Governors, Senators, House of Representative members, Ministers, House of Assembly Members in every State in Biafraland why the silence over the continued illegal detention of their Son Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu despite the fact that a court of competent jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal, has discharged and acquitted him of all the charges brought against him by the Nigerian government? Powerful queried.
“IPOB has been observing the countenance of Igbo Politicians from the moment the Appeal Court ruled in favour of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and wonder whether this silence is as a result of these leaders being cowardly and afraid of the Fulani Government or whether they are accomplices to the kidnapping and extraordinary renditioning of their Son.
“If they are afraid of the Fulani cabal who are running the affairs of this country, it means they are cowards and are unworthy to represent our people in every event in Nigeria.
“IPOB is asking these questions because our patience is not and will not be infinitely elastic. The continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the DSS notwithstanding the Court of Appeal ruling and the accompanying silence from the South East political leaders leaves much to be desired.
“This is exactly the same attitude of silence exhibited by these so-called political, traditional and religious leaders as their sons and daughters are daily abducted and extra-judicially murdered. This attitude must be reversed and there is still a small window of opportunity to change this attitude and be very proactive in the defence of your own.
“For the fact that a Court of competent jurisdiction has discharged and acquitted Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Nigerian Government has no moral or legal ground to continue this persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
” The ruling of the Court of Appeal should embolden the South East governors and politicians of South East extraction to demand that the rule of law must be upheld rather than be concerned or afraid of being witch hunted if they stand firm and strong in condemning the utterances and actions of Alhaji Abubakar Malami and the Fulani APC Government whose intention it is to subvert the Constitution and judicial pronouncement of the Court of Appeal.
“Igbo Leaders and stakeholders should stand as men and women with balls and make their stand known to us. This is not the time to remain silent or seat on the fence.
“Malami has already said that Igbo leaders will decide if our Leader, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be released or not. It means that Malami knows that there is a conspiracy between the Federal Government and Igbo politicians.
“This is the time for Igbo Leaders to make their stand known, otherwise we take their silence as being part of the conspiracy to detain Mazi Nnamdi Kanu illegally and indefinitely even after the Appeal Court has discharged and acquitted him.
” Malami wants to create confusion and unending insecurity in our peaceful region and the Leaders of South East will be seen as part of this evil agenda to terrorise our people by their position in these dangerous times.
“Everybody knows that our leader, Mazi Nnamdi KANU is having health issues since he was illegally abducted and kept in DSS solitary confinement. Now that the Appeal Court has discharged and acquitted him, he should be released without delay. God forbid anything untoward happens to him. Both Nigeria and Igbo Leaders will understand that IPOB is highly determined to take Biafra by any means possible”. Powerful stated.