By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka Abuja
A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Eastern Union (EU) has expressed total support for the forthcoming peaceful protest, for unconditional release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Recall that an activist, and former Presidential Candidate, African Democratic Congress, Omoyele Sowore, announced October 20 as the date for a peaceful protest march to demand the release of the IPOB leader, who has been in detention since Sunday, June 27th, 2021.
A statement signed by the President of Eastern Union, Hon. Charles C Anike, on Tuesday, in Abuja, made available to journalists, declared that there is no
justifiable reason for the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in the first instance.
According to Hon. Anike, Kanu committed no known crime, except that clueless government of the APC under Buhari became too afraid of Kalu’s growing influence and the awareness he was creating among the Igbos.
He said: “That was reinforced and coupled with the deep seated hatred of Buhari to the Igbo race. Don’t we really have a constitution, or is there no specified duration for trial of whatever allegations? Why the endless court bouhaha?.
Lamenting, he added: “The APC virus has spread and swallowed our judiciary like other institutions, otherwise why would any judge join in the political conspiracies against a law abiding citizen?. Whatever crime Buhari claimed that Kanu committed was committed more and simultaneously by Sunday Igboho who also was and still agitating for the Oduduwa Republic, so why is Sunday Igboho not in detention?”
He continued: “There are several others in the North who indisputably are agitating for Arewa this and that. Why are they not also in detention?. What about those well known terrorists that has been on rampage in the North and has extended their blood thirsty onslaught across the Country, if you like call them whatever names. Are they not operating freely and even brandishing their weapons in viral videos?
“What did Buhari and Tinubu done to them?. Are they not celebrities, to the extent that government officials are publicly and proudly posing in pictures with them in the name of negotiating with them?. Even those of them (terrorists) that were arrested under Ex-president Jonathan, were all released by Buhari.
“Most of them were allegedly enlisted into the Nigerian army. More reason our military men has become sacrificial lambs of the Boko Haram terrorists. This is the only Country in the World where terrorists are celebrated and tolerated. What are we really talking about? And someone will be kept in detention for years for agitating against marginalization and injustices.”
Regretting that Nnamdi Kalu did nothing to warrant his incarceration, but rather it’s another ways of humiliating the Igbo people in Nigeria as a people that lost a civil war, he added: “That Tinubu wrestled power and sustained Kanu’s hostage is the most foolish thing any illegitimate government, experiencing divided loyalty can do. Except maybe he is doing that in line with his campaign promise to continue the Buhari government of repression, oppression, suppression, discriminatory, poverty, occultic and cluelessness.
“The recent and renewed efforts to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the hostage of APC and it’s allies from the South East is a very welcome development. And we in the Eastern Union are fully in support and in partnership. It is really time to stick out our necks for the worst, otherwise these clowns that have snatched power will continue to take undue advantage to sustain our enslavement.
“Tinubu and his South East collaborators must be confronted head on.
This present and renewed effort must be sustained until Kanu is released. Tinubu has no right to sustain Buhari illegality. This move will also go a long way to wake Tinubu to his eluded reality that 2027 will not be business as usual, no matter who is the master rigger he is appointing as INEC Chairman. The pedigree of his nominee for the INEC top job is very clear to all that he believes that Nigerians are still sleeping.”
Still faulting all the circumstances behind his incarceration, Anime stated further: “Otherwise how on earth would he appoint a member of his party, who was also maintained a front roll of his legal team in the 2023 Presidential election tribunal? Another Professor with stains and discrepancies in his academic records. Needless to talk about what Nigerians have unveiled about Prof. Amupitan. Well we see the appointment as mere compensation for the past and the future and also as another slap on the faces of Nigerians.
“The appointment also shows that Tinubu thinks that he can continue to fool the people and all the time. Tinubu from all intents and purposes is very much aware that he cannot win, just like before, therefore has started plotting in hisv usual crudity. But we wish the sycophants that surrounds him can just be honest to him just for once, they should let him to know that any attempt to rig the 2027 Presidential election will spell doom to him in particular and then his cohorts.
“The earlier Tinubu take steps to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu before the date set aside for the protest the better for him and the Country. But to his peril should he be adamant or listen to those saboteurs from the South East. Nigerians can no longer be taken for granted. We look forward to a more viral and united Nigeria society, devoid of the present Socio-economic and political drawbacks.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ndi Igbo World Union, Ohaneze Youths, South East Leaders amongst other notable organisations, according to Anike, have thrown their weight behind the protest.
