By Kesandu Egburonu
The question begs to be answered: What is the plan of the Federal Government (FG) regarding the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu? Is he being held because he disturbs the Federal Government’s plan or he’s kept for breaking the law? Which is it because right now, it is getting hard to understand the Government’s true motive for continually apprehending the man.
In 2022, Kanu was freed by the Court of Appeal and the FG was asked to pay damages to him to the tune of N1 Billion. Till date, Kanu remains in the custody of the State Security Services and the said damages has not been paid either. What the FG has instead chosen to do is try to stay the execution of the judgment on the grounds of national security: An extended episode of a long drama that has since seen heated tension in the South East as a result.
How did we come to this? There is a saying that entails that if the foundation is weak, then everything thereof is bound to doom. The same can apply to this case. The FG announced to the world, in 2021, that Nnamdi Kanu had been arrested and expatriated to Nigeria from Kenya. The fact later emerged that the arrest and expatriation, like so many things wrong with this country, was actually illegal. It is on this premise, and so many other, that the case at the Court of Appeal was struck out and awarded in favour of Kanu.
What followed was the Government’s move to protract this saga by appealing to the Supreme Court. From mid 2022 till date, the highlights of that appeal have been unending adjournments by the court and a tortoise-like progress. The IPOB have been swift to point out that this is a deliberate play by the government to circumvent the rule of law and unjustly remand a citizen. You really wouldn’t blame many for seeing merits in their arguments.
In all honesty, even to the layman, illegally arresting and extraditing a citizen to Nigeria is enough cause to strike out any case thereof. In a country hitherto known for flouting court orders, this latest trend further enhances the distrust of the populace in the government. You label IPOB a ‘terrorist group’ and Nnamdi Kanu, by extension, a terrorist as well, then prove it. Hearsay does not bear weight in court. Your ability to prove beyond reasonable doubt does and so far, we are yet to see proof of the these claims.
What amuses the citizenry is that, while IPOB has been proscribed as a terror group, the government wines and dines with known terrorists all around the country. Asari Dokubo—a known individual who has taken up arms against the country, has since been tasked with guiding the country’s oil pipes in the Niger Delta. He walks in and out of Aso Rock undisturbed! How about the Boko Haram terrorist group whom our dear government describe as “repentant Boko Haram members”?: These people who have terrorised this country are being given amnesty and put into the army! What a travesty. Should we talk about the bandits and herdsmen who rob, kill and kidnap on a daily basis, yet, we see government officials strike deals with them for the release of their captives. We do not see any of them being proscribed as ‘terrorist groups’ by the government. Do the rules only apply to IPOB or are we missing something here?
The situation in South East Nigeria is no better for it. ‘Sit at Home’ orders are regularly being declared by IPOB and obeyed by the citizens. Even when the state government negates it, the orders still stay. This has worsened the economic situation of the country and left the country weakened on that ground. The grievance: The continued detention of their own. The Igbos feel aggrieved and why not? Rather than prove their son is guilty and end this drama at once, the ploys and antics of the government gives the impression of Kanu’s innocence that further strengthens their argument.
It is in everybody’s interest that Nnamdi Kanu be released by the government once and for all so normalcy can finally return. Heightening tensions in the land by continuing this present course of action will do the FG no good. Even if you are thoroughly convinced that he is indeed a terrorist and deserves to be locked-up, the fact that you have failed to prove it so far should make you change course of action and adopt a “he who runs today will leave to fight another day” approach. Do what is right and obey the rule of law. Go back to the drawing up and develop a better strategy that conforms with the constitution and not one that violates it.
The FG risks a big civil unrest if the status quo remains. The nation, Nigeria, is presently too weak to survive a civil unrest like the one that looms if Nnamdi Kanu is continually unjustly detained. A word, they say, is enough for the wise.
