A former governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, has revealed those blocking the release of the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement released on Sunday, Obidigbo, who does not only revealed those blocking Kanu’s release, also advised South East politicians against compounding the travails of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, arguing that their current postures might worsen his problems.
Obidigbo said some Igbo political elites were going about the ongoing popular demand for the release of the embattled IPOB leader the wrong way, accusing overzealous politicians of acting out of ignorance and mostly for self aggrandisement.
“I am constrained to say that I am not comfortable with the way and manner our political elites are going about their request for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“The sense I make of the cheap scramble by Igbo politicians to be identified in the growing calls for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom from prolonged and unjust incarceration is that they are merely playing to the gallery.
“It is obvious that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not entirely the one holding Nnamdi Kanu. It was not even former President Muhammadu Buhari or his erstwhile Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami. All the AGFs, including the current one, are mere legal officers for the government.
“However, Kanu’s matter is a security issue, which requires the involvement of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. The President may not have absolute power to release Kanu, although he has the power to influence things if he so wishes.
“Genuine efforts to free Kanu should be directed at the NSA, as well as the Ambassadors of Britain, USA and Ambassadors of some well-meaning, and Influential countries like China, Russia, etc.
“Without the buy- in of those powerful nations, the struggle will surely continue, until Biafra gets the referendum that IPOB has been demanding, whichever way they get it.
“If Kanu is released on political grounds, without holding a referendum they are demanding, the struggle will most likely continue, thereby rendering elusive or delaying further the much sought after peace”.
Identifying the salient complications around the IPOB leader’s forceful rendition and consequent incarceration, the elder statesman said Britain’s loud silence about Kanu’s predicament also raises a large red flag.
According to him, those blocking Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom is the British government, stating that he (Kanu) acted against British economic interest in Nigeria.
“Everything that Kanu said or did was done in Britain, being a British citizen. But, they could not afford to arrest him on British soil, because of obvious and potential backlash.
“The British High Commissioner in Nigeria showed no interest in at least speaking up against the violent kidnap and rendition of her citizen. All the Embassy was interested was to hear Kanu renounce his dream of a Biafra, probably with a promise never to support any such agitation in future,” he sated.
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