Tuesday, September 10, 2024 -Dr. Chike Obidigbo has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally.
The elder states man and President of Osisioma Foundation said
Kanu's release from DSS custody would begin the process of national
renewal.
According to DailyTrust, Obidigbo stated that given the difficult
situation of the country, the continued incarceration of the IPOB leader serves
no useful purpose, stressing that although Kanu’s detention is impacting
negatively on the Southeast economy, it is also affecting Nigeria’s
socio-political stability.
The elder statesman advised President Tinubu to discontinue his
promise to continue in the steps of former President Muhammadu Buhari, noting
that Buhari’s tactics are not beneficial to the socio-economic survival of
Nigeria.
While noting that the President is confronting so many challenges,
most of which were caused by Buhari era, Obidigbo reminded Tinubu of an Igbo
adage that says a man faced with many enemies should try rapprochement with
some.
In a statement titled, “My
final advice to my friend, Tinubu to free Nnamdi Kanu immediately and unconditionally”, Obidigbo remarked that Ndigbo need some form of
appeasement. He stressed that the bitterness on both divides is still gaining
serious momentum as Ndigbo remains the underdogs.
He stated: “Only President Tinubu
knows whether holding the IPOB leader is contained in Buhari’s handover notes.
But, whatever reasons Buhari may have advanced, Tinubu as the incumbent should
evaluate the details of such blind and hard-hearted disposition and use his
good offices to review and release Kanu.
"As a concerned elder citizen, I know of a truth that the political
situation of any developing country impinges on its economy, just as the peace,
security and wellbeing of the citizens constitute the primary purpose of
government.
“So, my final and well-intentioned advice to my friend and fellow elder
statesman, Jabagan, is to release Kanu, if truly he desires to build a nation
out of this so-called geographical expression known as Nigeria.
“Granted that President Tinubu declared his intention to continue with
the policies of former President Buhari, including anti-people economic
programmes, I believe that the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains
counterproductive.”
While arguing that the prolonged “incarceration of Kanu is not
serving any useful purpose,” Obidigbo declared that Biafra agitation has gone
beyond Kanu and even Simon Ekpa.
He disclosed that Kanu appeared at time when the marginalization
of Ndi-Igbo in Nigeria was taking a new dimension, remarking that Kanu started
speaking out after seeing the plot to decimate the Igbo population.
“The former President always referred to
the civil war, making it plausible that there was a plan to unleash another
mayhem on Igbo. Kanu emerged and started showing evidence that Ndi-Igbo are not
wanted in Nigeria and his message resonated with all well meaning Igbo except
the few that were enjoying political benefits from the system.
“As things stand now, the Biafra agitation has become sweet music to the
ears of young people. Kanu has fulfilled his divinely ordained purpose, which
was to set the Biafra ball rolling down the cliff.
“Having successfully achieved that mission, it is crystal clear that
Kanu no longer holds the key to quench the fire, or to stop the rolling
boulder. As such, detaining him further seems like a drowning man clutching
onto any straw.
“Even the more volatile Simon Ekpa cannot quench the Biafra agitation
with the momentum it continues to gather,” he stated.
Obidigbo recalled that while some hardliners in Buhari’s
administration tended to believe that holding Kanu was the best way to
extinguish the agitation for Biafra, the reverse has become the case.
He added that the IPOB leader’s detention has continued to fuel
insecurity amid vociferous demands by separatists in Southeast, saying that
splinter groups are rising up daily to protest the continuing injustice against
Ndi-Igbo.
The senior citizen said it is obvious that the economy and people
of Southeast geopolitical zone continue to bleed from the prolonged detention
of the IPOB leader.
He therefore expressed the hope that as a
recognised democrat, the “President understands my points clearly, because
I have spoken as an elder to another elder and friend.”
His words: “I advise President Tinubu to use his tongue to
count his teeth. I am done with making request for the release of Kanu. But,
let it be known that keeping the IPOB leader further will never usher in the
much needed peace and national harmony.
“A decision must be taken at this juncture, whether the Igbo are still
wanted in Nigeria or not. If the answer is in the affirmative, that is where
Nnamdi Kanu becomes most valuable, because he is today’s harbinger of the Igbo
spirit, rather than any of the current artificial Igbo socio-political
leaders.”
The Osisioma Foundation Leader noted that as Kanu regains his
freedom, the authorities should mellow further threats to Ekpa so as to douse
the tension and initiate dialogue on the peace process.
“Outside of this, it will be very clear to
all, particularly Ndi-Igbo that retired General Gowon’s
‘No-Victor-No-Vanquished' slogan was actually programmed to be, an empty
rhetoric, mischievously intended to deceive and to punish,” Obidigbo declared.
He condemned the nonchalant and self-serving posture of some Igbo
leaders, demanding that the passive ignorance, apathy and nonchalance of Igbo
elite should cease.
According to the Osisioma Foundation boss, “if Nigeria still
wants Ndigbo to remain part of Nigeria and join in the national search for
rebirth, the perceived official endorsement of continued mistreatment of Ndigbo
must end immediately, starting with the release of MaziNnamdi Kanu.
“As a senior citizen and community leader that resides in Igboland, I
make bold to say that the negative impact of sit-at-home on economic activities
is huge, but Igbo do not care and may decide to go extra mile to show
solidarity for Kanu.
“But, in the present circumstances, it is imperative that Kanu should be
released because he has not committed any crime except advocating for a better
lease of life for his people. His continued detention will not solve any
problem, because the entire Igbo are tacitly behind him.
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