Chris Elomunoh, the Chairman of all Chairmen of Ohaneze Ndigbo in 9 States who was responsible for the comment that ‘Biafra is dead” has said that Nnamdi Kanu’s Biafra is very much alive than any other living thing or person. He spoke extensively to Ifeanyi Chijioke and Chima Onyekachi in Nkwelle his hometown, Oyi local government area of Anambra state. The press briefing which was arranged by Chukwuemeka Nduka our national investigator was a relief to the publicised mantra ‘Biafra is dead’. He strictly maintained that violence or lawlessness is what he is against and praised Nnamdi Kanu for teaching millions of IPOB how to be peaceful and lawful despite provocations so far. He also condemned the killing of innocent and unarmed Biafra youths who are agitating within the confines of the law.
He pleaded to Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu and dialogue as Kanu’s continued incarceration is only promoting what he tends to be fighting. Nnamdi Kanu, who recently received the award and receiving praises and approval from across the length and breadth of Biafra land, was arrested in October last year en route to Biafra land. Immediately after his arrest, an unimaginable protest broke out in Biafra land, protesters from Cross River, Rivers, Delta, Anambra, etc. were brutally confronted, shot and killed in their dozens. Various human right groups have raised alarm over what was termed the second genocide in Biafra.
Few months after the arrest, militant groups issued 31 days ultimatum that he should be released, or pipeline destruction and unimaginable hostility will commence across the Niger part of Biafra. This ultimatum was taken for granted until the hostility commenced and plunged the country’s economy into crisis. the militant groups that championed the hostility were the militant group that issued the first ultimatum but the bottom line is, all militant groups opined that pipeline destruction is as a result of Kanu’s continued incarceration and that hostility will stop once he is released.
Ohaneze Ndigbo and its sister bodies were accused of working against the interest of the indigenous people of Biafra. The people wondered why Ohaneze chose to work against the wish of 99.6% of the people just for political gain. Their position was further affirmed when news of them saying that ‘Biafra is dead’ broke out. Though there was a question of unanimity as the following days, Ohaneze demanded the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu. Recently, the tide is changing as everybody seems to be sympathetic to the people of Biafra and her leader. Some leaders from across the Niger are talking positively while their brothers from Igbo speaking clan are also talking defensively of their child.
The apex women group from Igbo speaking part of Biafra has questioned the rationale behind Kanu’s continued detention, while pressure groups from across the Niger are now clamouring for Kanu’s release and conduct of the referendum. There seems to be a significant shift of ground as everybody has come to the conclusion that Nnamdi Kanu is correct in everything he has said, and his quest is on the right track. “I don’t know how the press came up with the news that Biafra is dead, I said long before that Biafra we fought for under Ojukwu is dead, but this Biafra of Nnamdi Kanu is very much alive. What I am against is violence or any form of violence, and I have maintained that.
I am one of the leaders that have maintained fearlessly that our son Nnamdi Kanu should be released to us so we can talk to him ourselves. I have been called by American consulate on the issue of Biafra; I told them clearly that our son should be released first and that we are against violence. With the way Nnamdi Kanu is going about Biafra, we have not seen gun or bomb and yet the whole world is talking about Biafra. This Biafra cannot be dead even though 1967 Biafra I agree is dead but as for this one, it is alive, and we can see it and follow it” he said. He, however, believes that the continued detention of Kanu might be responsible for the soaring or living Biafra.
He noted that since the incarceration of Kanu, too many government people have been calling from outside Nigeria, too many meetings and activities all about Nnamdi Kanu. “I have been in numerous meetings about Nnamdi Kanu, I have always maintained that his release is first so it can end the problem in Nigeria. Even in cases, some people don’t want him to be mentioned, I defy them and do what is right” Recall that some people have been accused of fighting to make sure Nnamdi Kanu remains in detention, assuring Buhari that Kanu’s release would worsen things.
These people are perceived enemies who had reached a compromise on financial or political benefits but when they approached Kanu, he opposed them, and which subsequently angered them, they now choose political instability that might wreck havoc over the peaceful end of the problem by releasing Nnamdi Kanu. “I am not here to speak for or against anyone; I am here to make sure there is peace in Nigeria. Kanu is a time bomb, militants are destroying Nigeria because of him, and our youths are fanatical and dying and might fight back someday. This agitation is our problem, and we must do everything to contain it or stop it. After consultations and assessments, I see releasing Nnamdi Kanu as the first step to achieving peace, we leaders must admit that there is a problem that could lead to another civil war if not urgently and properly handled” he posited when quarried on the accusation against Oaneze.
Tell that fool
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