Wonders, as they say, shall never end in Nigeria. I am so ashamed of
myself. So much so that I feel like disappearing from the surface of the
earth upon watching the video of the “almighty Nnamdi Kanu” of the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) praying in Jerusalem for misleading
our people and absconding with his ill-gotten wealth. These are indeed
lessons to be learned when we wipe up unnecessary sentiments in the
polity. And also a reminder to us as a people that we should take our
time to study the motives and actions of individuals masquerading
themselves as religious and ethnic champions.
The Nnamdi Kanu’s
case was quite an unfortunate episode when one realized how he deceived
many people into believing he is the messiah they have been waiting for.
He became a nuisance, and he is still one, and he gave out himself, not
only as an ethnic champion, but he also arrogated himself a spiritual
role in the lives of some members of the unsuspecting public.
In
truth, I was one of those that fell for his gimmick. I recall that I
rose stoutly in his defense when it was speculated that he had either
been killed or whisked away by the Nigeria Army when it launched
Operation Python Dance to curtail the excesses of armed groups and other
vices in South East Nigeria. But little did I know that the so-called
progenitor of the now proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had
perfected plans and indeed fled the country. So many questions are
begging for answers in my head. And one of them is why he choose the
dishonorable path of running away and leaving the people he was leading
to their fate?
I am also hurt that his cowardly act left our
people in sorrow and pains. He used them to enrich himself and family,
and when the time came for him to stand for his people, he fled. What a
shame. At this point, it would suffice to state that I indeed owe the
Chief of Army Staff, and by extension the Nigeria Army an unreserved
apology for my unwarranted and unverified vent of ignorance when it was
speculated that Nnamdi Kanu had been whisked away. I also believe that
other social commentators that also fell victim of Nnamdi Kanu gimmick
and labeled the Nigeria Army in derogatory terms should also tender
their unreserved apologies. Why this is necessary, you might want to
ask.
It is essential because once upon a time, a certain man
named Nnamdi Kanu instigated a national crisis that threatened the
continued existence of Nigeria. He allegedly sought and received
financial gratification from individuals, groups, and even countries
that were against the progress of Nigeria. And only for him to flee. And
that in itself caused a national crisis when various groups started a
campaign of defamation against the Nigerian Army.I recall that the
President General of Afaraukwu, his autonomous community, Chief
Ikechukwu Nwabueze, revealed the community’s resolve to sue the Federal
Government if they fail to produce their son, Nnamdi Kanu. If this is
not the height of deceit and mischief, I do not know what to call it. I
do hope he is ready to pay any sum that will be required by the Federal
Government as compensation for blackmail.
It didn’t end there, a team
of IPOB lawyers, led by Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, filed a suit before the
Federal High Court in Abuja praying for an order directing the Chief of
Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to produce Kanu in court. Because,
Kanu was last seen after soldiers invaded the IPOB leaders house in
Afara-ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia Abia State, “on a murderous raid, where life
and mortar bullets were fired on an unarmed and defenseless populace,
leaving 28 persons dead and abducting many”. If this is not the height
of deceit, then what else is it?
Also worrisome was the fact that
the hypocrisy of IPOB was taken too far and it came with consequences,
such that would affect the sincerity of purpose on the people of the
South East in the marginalization debate in the future.I say this
because even with the knowledge of the promoters of IPOB that their
leader had fled, they still went ahead to issue a statement indicating
that the federal government may have killed Nnamdi Kanu. The statement
at the time read that “IPOB and its leadership worldwide under the
command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to bring to the notice
of the whole world that the whereabouts of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
and parents are still unknown to humanity since the attack in his
compound last week. IPOB have been searching for our leader Mazi Nnamdi
Kanu and parents nowhere to be found since last week; we are challenging
the Nigerian army and police to produce our leader Mazi Nnamdi since it
is a prerogative right for him to make statement inform his confidants
and teeming members all over the world about his condition.” This was
the height of hypocrisy
I now wonder what the next line of action
would be for IPOB and its promoters since their leader had resurfaced
in Jerusalem instead of one of the detention camps of the Nigeria Army.
Would they bury their heads in shame? Would they issue an unreserved
apology to their unsuspecting followers whom they had deceived into
believing in a cause that had turned out to be a scam? All of these are
questions that must be answered if we are sincere with our selves.
Those
that also stood as surety for him also lied under oath that the
Nigerian Army had Nnamdi Kanu in its custody. They have committed
perjury, and the law must take its cause in my opinion. There is also a
new dimension to the whole saga with the fact that he was sighted in
Israel after committing crimes against the state in Nigeria. What does
that tell us? Does it explain the claims by regional neighbors that
Israel trains, arms, and backs terrorists? This is a topic for another
day.
With the unfolding drama, it is now evident that the
agitation by IPOB was just a smokescreen to exploit his people. There
was no iota of truth in all of his public posturing other than the fact
that he saw an avenue to enrich himself and he took advantage of it. I
am sure those South East leaders and elders under the umbrella of
Ohaneze Ndigbo, that fell victim for his gimmick would be hiding their
faces as it stands. But even as they do that, I think they should
apologize to the Nigerian government, the Chief of Army Staff, and the
Nigeria Army for the ignorant campaign of calumny it launched.
Mbani is a public affairs commentator and President of the South East Renewal Group [SERG]
0 Comments