Anxiety in IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu’s Abia community

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

In Afaraukwu, Abia State, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, there are uncertainties.

According to Track News, there was wild celebration in the area when the news broke that the Appeal Court had ordered Kanu’s release. However, Kanu’s chances of joining his kin quickly faded after the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, hinted otherwise.

Kanu was previously charged with terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publishing defamatory material, illegal possession of firearms, and improper importation of goods by Nigerian authorities in October 2015.

For medical reasons, he was granted bail in April 2017. Mr Kanu, on the other hand, fled the country after the military invaded his home in Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Abia State.

Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria in 2021. He was later re-arrested.

While his people are celebrating his release, Malami is claiming that Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted.

Kanu’s kinsmen from the Ibeku ancient clan in Abia State’s Umuahia North Local Government Area are now concerned that the Federal Government will disregard the Appeal Court order.

During an interview with reporters over the weekend, the President General of Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku community (Kanu’s country home) in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, Chief Ikechukwu Nwabueze, stated that if the federal government fails to comply with the court’s order and release Nnamdi Kanu from the DSS detention facility, it would send a negative signal to the Nigerian nation.

He insisted that Kanu committed no crime by exercising his fundamental rights to seek secession for Ndigbo who had been marginalized, particularly under Nigeria’s current democratic system.

Mr Nwabueze, who also criticized the federal government’s recent position, urged the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, “not to push Nigeria into the regional and international abyss of mockery and charlatanism with far-reaching consequences on the country’s socioeconomic development, regional and international human rights, rule of law and democracy ratings, trade and investment policies, including foreign direct investment.”

According to the President General, “Malami expressly stated the Nigerian government’s disregard and disobedience to the unanimous judgment of the three justices of the Court of Appeal.”

“Malami’s arrogation of interpretative power in the landmark judgment, including what to obey and what not to obey, is also tyrannical, vexatious, and democratically calamitous.” It also does not bode well for all stakeholders’ collective efforts to address the core demands of the secessionist group and for the government and the pro-biafra group, IPOB, to adopt a political solution in achieving peace in the land.”

Chief Emeka Ezebuiro, also speaking out on the confusion, advised the Buhari-led administration to consider the court’s ruling in order to dispel tensions and calm nerves caused by Kanu’s re-arrest in Kenya and continued incarceration in the DSS detention facility.

He refuted Malami’s claim that Nnamdi Kanu was discharged rather than acquitted of treason charges, warning that the current federal government’s total disregard for the Appeal Court ruling for Kanu’s release will put the country on a bad footing.

Ezebuiro urged the Federal Government to release the IPOB leader in order to prevent economic losses and extrajudicial killings of innocent Igbo youths fighting for their rights, claiming that “it is now clear that the current democratic government under President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to include Igbos in sensitive decision making processes in the governance of the country.”

Meanwhile, another community member urged the Federal Government to end the drama and release Kanu.

“The IPOB leader has lost both of his parents; his father was a well-known traditional ruler.” So he’s already paid a high price. “They should let him come home; we’re waiting for him,” he said.