The leader
of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has asked members of
his family and all Igbo not to cease in praying for him to achieve victory
in
the task ahead.
Younger
brother of the IPOB leader, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, revealed to Sunday Sun the
request that Kanu made during a private interaction with his parents and
siblings.
Prince
Emmanuel who spoke with Sunday Sun at the palace of Kanu’s father at Afaraukwu
Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, yesterday, recalled what the IPOB leader told the
family during the private session: “When Nnamdi arrived home he said he did not
need anything from us and all Igbo people, other than prayers so that God will
lead him through in the task ahead. He equally told us that he is the messiah
as far as Biafra is concerned.
He said that, that is his agreement with God and
that God promised that He would not let him down. Kanu also promised that he
would not let Biafra down. Since it is his wish, all we owe him is to pray to
God since what he is doing is in accordance with God’s will concerning his
life.”
Emmanuel
explained that the visit of his brother to South-east senators in Abuja
immediately after he was released, did not in any way indicate that he would join
Nigeria’s politics, stressing that it would never happen.
“Nnamdi Kanu
told us he believes in freedom of speech and expression at all times. He told
us that his visit to his senior brothers, the senators, despite what people may
say is the normal thing to do. Some of them have said that his prolonged
detention was illegal and could no longer be allowed; they asked him to come
and see them and he went; there was nothing wrong with that. His primary
concern is about the restoration of Biafra, no more, no less.”
Father of
the IPOB leader, HRM (Eze) Sir Isaac Okwu Kanu, Egwukwu II told Sunday Sun that
the family had been making great effort to ensure that the bail conditions were
fully respected by controlling and keeping at bay the crowd of people who have been
trooping to the palace and were eager to see him.
“The tradition and culture of
this place allows him to entertain one or two visitors and he cannot run away
from this. We don’t allow many people to see him, that’s the truth.”
Eze Kanu
told Sunday Sun that since his son returned on Friday, the crowd of people thronging the palace to see him was too much,
but they have restrained them from seeing him.
“Despite the
fact they were not informed of Nnamdi’s visit, they came from far and near to
show love to their leader. There were over 300 persons that came yesterday and
all of them slept in the open in my palace till daybreak.
“Also,
elders of the community came to see him; you know that court said he should not
be found with more than 10 persons, so, we are trying to respect that.”
Expatiating
on the traditional title, Ezenwa 1 of Afaraukwu Ibeku bestowed on Kanu and the
ofor of the community given to him by the community, the monarch said it was an
indication that he is a good son of the land.
“My son, despite
being incarcerated for a long time remains the same person I have known all
along and what he wants at all times is the truth. From what I saw of him, it
will be better for him to die than to forgo the struggle. I can tell you that
he will not fail or deny the struggle for Biafra. The struggle is in his blood
and he will continue until victory is achieved,” the elated royal father said.
In his
remarks, while expressing joy for Kanu’s return, the President of Onitsha
Bridgehead Market, Chief Sunday Obinze said that the release of the leader of
IPOB has signified the unity of Ndigbo.
His words:
“It was unlike what was obtainable before where an Igbo man would be in trouble
and the leaders in Abuja would abandon the person. But this time around both
the senators and others came together and saw reason and the need for Kanu to
be released.
“I
personally believe that Kanu’s release has nothing to do with the liberation of
Biafra people, rather it will enhance the unity of Ndigbo as a nation, from
there they can plan on ways of getting Biafra. This is because Biafra is not a
goal that the barrow pusher or commercial motorcyclist can achieve. It requires
the collaboration of both the rich and the poor. I will only advise Kanu to
embrace even those who oppressed him in the struggle,” Obinze stated.
Also
expressing the elation of IPOB, the Media and Publicity Secretary of the group,
Mr. Emma Powerful, said: “The restoration of Biafra was ordained many years ago
by the Almighty God (Chukwu Okike Abiama) and cannot be stopped by any man born
of a woman.” He added that Kanu’s release on bail would not make the group
slack in the quest for the total liberation of Biafra.
The
President of Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF), Mr. Augustine Chukwudum said that the
release of Kanu was a good development for Ndigbo because he did not commit any
crime that would warrant his arrest and detention in the first place.
“So, Ndigbo
are happy that our son regained freedom. Then, our next line of action is to
ensure the release of all IPOB members and pro-Biafra agitators in detention
including IPOB Nigeria Coordinator, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe and others standing
trial in different courts in Nigeria.
“It is
important to have prominent people in the struggle because all Igbo are
Biafrans and that is what I have been advocating for long that Igbos should
come together and speak with one voice and be our brother’s keeper in time of
trouble and not to abandon the person when the person is on trouble.
“Biafra is
here and nothing will stop it, because President Muhammadu Buhari has proved to
the world that he hates Ndigbo, all his developments are geared towards the
north, so he has proved that he is the president of the North and not Nigeria
and that is why we condemned the bail conditions given to Kanu by the court and
called on his legal team to appeal the bail” Chukwudum stated.
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