Featured, Politics, Politics
For cheap political gains, the re-arrest of IPOB leader, the manhunt for Sunday Igboho and the show of force by the police against the agitators in Lagos may appear expedient, but unfortunately, these activities reveal huge governance deficits and justice system in crisis.
By Goddy Ikeh
SINCE the news of the re-arrest and re-arraignment of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu broke, there had been mixed reactions to the new twist in tackling insecurity in the country. Although there were claims and counter claims on where Kanu was arrested and extradited to Nigeria, the fact remains that this episode is least in the priority list of a country daily hounded by daily killings by bandits, armed herdsmen, poor governance issues, poverty, weak economy, high debt profile, unemployment, high inflation and food prices among other poor and overwhelming development indices.
Many local media reports said that the global movement of IPOB had expressed disappointment with President Uhuru Kenyetta of Kenya and his government over their role in the abduction of Kanu and “his subsequent smuggling into Nigeria” by the Nigerian security agents. Kanu was said to have been arrested on Sunday, June 27, 2021 and was extradited to continue his trial before the Justice Binta Nyako-led Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The IPOB leader is facing trial for committing treason among other offences.
The group wondered why a President like Uhuru Kenyetta would stoop so low to collude with such illegal activity to abduct and dehumanise “our Leader for doing nothing other than demanding the freedom of Biafrans from the Nigeria bondage”.
In a statement signed by Emma Powerful, IPOB national publicity secretary, on Thursday, July 1, 2021, IPOB said: “Based on our preliminary findings, President Uhuru Kenyetta was very instrumental to the abduction of our Leader in Kenya.”
“By this wickedness and grievous sin, Uhuru kenyatta has demonstrated his affection for the murderous Fulani terrorists ravaging the entire Nigeria, killing and maiming indigenous people in their ancestral lands.
“Uhuru kenyatta and his partners in crime should get ready to meet us at the International Criminal Court, ICC. This act of terror against our Leader, Nnamdi Kanu, a NATO citizen, British citizen with British International Passport and member of other international organizations will not go unpunished.
“As we continue with our investigations into this crime with a view to unmasking all the collaborators, we announce the following interim actions until further notice:
“We call on all Biafrans both home and in the diaspora to boycott travels with Kenya Air Lines; to immediately stop patronising any product made in Kenya; and to boycott any business dealings with Kenyans. We cannot be relating friendly with anyone collaborating with our oppressors to keep us in perpetual slavery!
“We also want to urge all Biafrans and members of the public to disregard all the concocted rubbish the wicked Nigeria Government and their agents have been peddling about how and where our leader was arrested. He was never arrested but abducted. All these cock and bull story is to twist facts and blackmail our selfless leader who they have seen as the major obstacle against their agenda to completely Islamise and Fulani Nigeria. Nobody should believe these lies. They are only intended to demarket our Leader and puncture his global reputation and teeming followership.
“The global family of IPOB reaffirm our unalloyed loyalty, belief and confidence in our leader Nnamdi Kanu. Biafrans are united behind him in his current ordeals in the hands of our oppressors. We also wish to remind the Nigeria Government that nothing should happen to our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
But the Kenyan Government has denied any involvement in the arrest and extradition of Kanu. Reacting to earlier claims by Kanu’s family that the IPOB leader was extradited from Kenya through the aid of the Kenyan government, the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage, denied the involvement of his home government in the extradition of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Machage told a news conference in Abuja on Friday, July 2, 2021 that he was denying the allegation that Kenya was involved in the alleged arrest in Kenya and extradition to Nigeria of Kanu. “To us therefore these allegations are fictional, imaginary and deliberately concerted to fuel antagonistic feelings among certain section of the Nigerian people,” he said.
“I want to challenge anyone with facts relating to this alleged arrest in Kenya to present those facts. This includes when, where, how and who was particularly involved in the alleged arrest,” he said.
He explained that the government and people of Kenya were also disturbed, dismayed and astonished by the unfortunate statement on this alleged arrest in Kenya which was carried in one of the national dailies.
“The Government of Kenya is particularly appalled by the spurious, derogatory and libelous mention of our dear President on this matter as has been reported.”
“I, as the High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, wish to categorically emphasize that our two countries, Kenya and Nigeria, have and continues to enjoy cordial diplomatic relations with both the Federal Government of Nigeria and its great accommodating and amiable citizens,” local media reports quoted Machage as saying.
He, however, noted that Kenya is committed to sustaining the historical bond of friendship between the two countries and further cement diplomatic relations with the view of ensuring beneficial relations.
He urged that Kenya should not be dragged into the issue as she has no question to answer but rather that the citizens of Nigeria should approach the Nigerian government for explanation of where Kanu was arrested from.
The British High Commission, on its part, plans to engage the Nigerian Government over the re-arrest of Nnamdi Kanu. Dean Hurlock, a spokesperson of the British High Commission, said that the commission was “in the process of seeking clarification” from the federal government over Kanu’s re-arrest.
In the message to local media, Hurlock said that the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office “stands ready to provide consular assistance regarding the matter” to Kanu, who also holds a British passport. He also said that the UK “would expect any trial or legal proceedings to follow due process” as Kanu’s prosecution resumes.
But the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, whose state is one of the worst hit by the activities of armed herdsmen and bandits for the last five years or more urged the federal government to demonstrate the same zeal put into the arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to the arrest of leaders of militia herdsmen and Miyetti Allah, who have owned up to the killings in the state.
For Gov. Ortom, it is by so doing that the federal government would be taken seriously in its acclaimed fight against insurgency and terrorism in the country. Speaking while flagging off the sale of fertilizer in Makurdi on Thursday, July 1, 2021, he urged the federal government to give Benue people justice by ensuring the arrest of leaders of militia herdsmen, who were killing and sacking communities in the state thereby frustrating food production in the state. “If the federal government has demonstrated capacity to arrest Nnamdi Kanu, they should also exhibit the same zeal, will and decision to arrest the Fulani herdsmen that are terrorizing our state and country.
“Let that be done, they are living here with us. If Nnamdi Kanu can be arrested from a foreign land, I believe that if the federal government can exhibit the same will, they will arrest Fulani herdsmen, especially Miyetti Allah, who have owned up to the killings in Benue state and have continued to terrorize our land.
“It is laughable and unfortunate when I heard that Miyetti Allah are calling Nnamdi Kanu a terrorist. Someone who is fighting for the liberation of his people is being called a terrorist by a terrorist organization called Miyetti Allah and Fulani herdsmen.
“So the federal government should rise up to its responsibilities and arrest the people,” local media reports quoted the governor as saying.
“I have no problem with trying Nnamdi Kanu, but the due process should be followed and let there be justice. If he has committed any offense, let there be justice,” he added.
But the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, whose state is daily confronted with killings and kidnapping for ransom by armed men and bandits, said that the proscribed IPOB should not be compared to bandits and Boko Haram insurgents.
Reacting to the arrest of the IPOB leader, the governor said that his arrest was a message to all separatists challenging the sovereignty of Nigeria. According to local media reports, El-Rufai accused Kanu of inciting violence in the country as well as exposing his sureties to danger, hence, he should be made to face the law.
In the same vein, the Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, said it received the news with mixed feelings of apprehension and appreciation. It also commended the effort of the federal government and the agencies that made this possible particularly the International Police and authorities of the United Kingdom for honouring their treaties with Nigeria.
In a statement on Thursday, June 29, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, spokesman of the group, said: “We remain apprehensive until the full course of justice takes effect. Kanu as we all know, has a pending trial for treasonable felony and jumping bail. In addition, he must now face additional charges of incitement to violence and killings of people of other ethnicities particularly northerners, security personnel as a result of his open incitement.
“More importantly, we don’t see Kanu’s arrest affecting the issue of Biafra. While he faces trial hopefully, the CNG is insisting that this is right time to tackle the Biafran issue once for all.
“Nobody should make the mistake of assuming that the arrest is anywhere near the end of the Biafran affair. We stand our ground that a refrendum must be held to determine this and all other agitations for self-determination from any part of the country.”
On its part, the Alaigbo Development Foundation, ADF, described the development as “very unfortunate both for the continued existence of the crisis-ridden Nigerian federation and the struggle for the self-determination and emancipation of Igboland from the artificial Nigerian federation.”
“The arrest or elimination of Nnamdi Kanu from the scene of the struggle is most unlikely to result in the smashing of the spirit of the longing for freedom of the Igbo Nation or that of other Nationalities that are equally struggling to free themselves from the chaotic Nigerian federation,” it said.
“Earlier in the day, we saw a social media news item with the headline: “Nnamdi Kanu arrested and Boko Haram fighters released”. This news item summarizes the grave injustice in the Federal government’s attempt to crush Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB supporters, while the blood sucking Boko Haram and other bandits are on the prawl throughout the entire Federation including Katsina the home state of Mr President,” it said.
“The Igbo Nation is meanwhile groaning under the agony of the massive arrests, torture and killing of many Igbo youths by security agents of the Federal Government.
“One thing is very clear. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is breathing its last. It may well go the way of other federations which were created artificially and held together by the force of arms.
“We call on the International Community not to turn its back on the horrors taking place in Nigeria, especially in Igboland.
“We equally call on all Igbo lawyers no matter their persuasions, to come together and defend Nnamdi Kanu as well as several other Igbo youths who are languishing in various detention centres and prisons all over Nigeria,” the statement signed by Prof. Uzodimma Nwala, ADF president and Abia Onyike, chairman, ADF Bureau of Media and Publicity said.
Another group, the Cultural Credibility Development Initiative said that its attention had been drawn to the announcement, on June 29, 2021, by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, of the federal government’s re-arrest of Nnamdi Kanu. The group, in a statement, also noted that the details of his arrest and the rights accorded him have remained in the realms of speculations.
“While his prompt re-arraignment in court and the stated date of July 26, 2021 to commence trial may signal alignment with the rule of law, there are unanswered questions. How was Mazi Nnamdi Kanu brought back to Nigeria? Were they in accordance with International laws and conventions? Malami was silent on these.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has fundamental rights under Section 31 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. The federal government should comply with both,” the group said.
According to the statement, with the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the supposed reason for the increased siege in the South East, the group expects remarkable reduction in the security presence that is resulting in loss of lives in the South East.
“Cultural Credibility Development Initiative looks forward to a trial that aligns with human rights and the freedom of the judiciary to make its decisions on point of law. Security agents should desist from harassment of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s associates, including his lawyers.
Cultural Credibility Development Initiative is committed to peace, but notes that no peace can be founded within injustice. As Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, of blessed memory would say, ‘Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to have been done’. The media, civil society organisations and the Nigerian Bar Association should be fully present at the trials,” the group added.
However, many Nigerians believe that a fair trial of the IPOB leader will go a long way in maintaining the fragile peace across the nation and above all, that efforts should be made by the federal government to tackle urgently the issue of huge governance deficits, which have been at the centre of these agitations by old and emerging separatist groups in the country.
– July 5, 2021 @ 10:09 GMT |
A.I
Tags: Alaigbo Development Foundation IPOB Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Mixed reactions trail IPOB leader’s re-arrest Nnamdi Kanu
