By Ovat Abeng
Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the son of the late Biafra warlord, has called on the federal government of Nigeria to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra – IPOB.
Emeka Ojukwu Jnr, who spoke to Journalists in an interview said that Ñnamdi has been held and prosecuted by the State authorities on charges bothering on terrorism, and crime against the State insisted that if Nnamdi Kanu is released the insecurity in the Southeast especially Anambra State would reduce drastically.
According to him “there has been daily violent attacks on innocent individuals by criminals, with attendant high mortality which has now attained near normalcy, considering the development from the big picture perspective, the release of Nnamdi Kanu may not put an immediate end to the insecurity, but it will assuage the rising tension among the populace, who will then join hands to put an end to the rising criminality.”
While answering questions on conspiracy of silence by southeast stakeholders on the issue of security challenges in the area he said “I don’t think there is a conspiracy of silence. You know, first of all, security is a delicate subject matter and not what should be discussed for the sake of merely discussing it without regards to the implications and without a clear understanding of the differing but valid perspectives of the citizenry and the Government, especially those in charge of national security. So, I think that many people are just being careful so that their intervention would have the needed impact.”
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Speaking on the constant kidnapping and killings in the southeast, the Warlord son said “it is sad. that nobody can, but condemn these atrocities in totality. It is shocking. However, I would not want to go into assessing the Governors. I have my impressions and opinions, but I will keep them aside because it is easy to be a backseat driver until you find yourself in the driver’s seat. Additionally, all actions taken by our Governors are not overt, some are covert. Rather let me engage the main issue which is that the insecurity in our homeland now calls for urgent action. Therefore, I am calling on all of us to join hands and put an immediate end to this embarrassment. Yes, I must admit that the Governors have major roles to play, but in the end, my predominant occupation is to see that this situation is confined to the dustbin of history, as quickly as possible by increasing the participation of our Royal Fathers, our Town Unions our Churches, etc and have a “whole-of-society approach” to the issue. Most miscreants are known within the various communities. It is also critical, in my opinion, that as we look to “punish” as it were, we should also be looking at the prevailing societal conditions that push some of our youth into criminality. We need more leadership and resources focused on creating an environment in which real opportunities exist for our younger ones to flourish. Our youth need to have a sense of belonging. They need to feel that they are heard and that they have a viable future within the society. How can we expect anyone who feels totally disenfranchised from the system, to value and protect that system.”
When he was asked his view on the link between Nnamdi Kanu ‘s detention and the insecurity in the southeast , he has these to say” What you are asking, if I can put it differently, is if there is a link between marginalization and agitation or something along that line. Well, like I was just saying, injustice real or imagined, brings contempt, protests, agitations and a general feeling of “let it all burn!”, but that only comes when you feel disconnected from what you wish to burn down. Of course, I do not condone such actions but there are indeed genuine concerns that have not been addressed, and over time, these concerns began to find expression in anger as a result of frustration. To answer your question, it’s a complicated situation and that is why we must bring these conversations within a context. For instance, Nnamdi Kanu was not just detained. IPOB wasn’t formed today. By today’s realities, the Government, Kanu, and IPOB are variables in the crisis we face in the Southeast today. So, yes his detention and the subsequent protests for his release have given an opportunity for mischief makers, be they common criminals or actors from other segments of the society, to take advantage and pursue their own goals to the detriment of all. A clear understanding of this fact must guide us in finding a lasting solution.
He called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu unequivocally, noting that he is joining his voice to make the call for his release so that southeast can make progress in finding a political solution to this issue.
“Let’s remember that the Judiciary has also said as much. However, I don’t think that Kanu’s release will automatically end the current insecurity. It will, however, open vistas of opportunities for honest conversations about how to restore order in our homeland. It is a necessary first step. There are misgivings leading to tensions and they are based on the real experience of the people. You can’t say these don’t matter if you are interested in genuine peace-building. So, yes, I am again calling for Nnamdi Kanu’s release, as part of the initial steps to restore sanity in the Southeast. Once the specter of his continued incarceration has been lifted by his release, then we can look around at ourselves and see more clearly who the good and the bad actors are.”
Speaking on Anambra gubernatorial election next year, Ojukwu Jnr said,” I belong to a particular Party in which I am a major stakeholder, so my default position should be clear. However, if you require detailed analysis, I have been busy with my life, my business and my family. Right now, there is nothing much for me to say other than what I have just said. I will need to pay closer attention to what is happening first. But let us hope that before the election next year in November, I will be better informed and then I shall give you a more detailed pronouncement on my thoughts on the electoral landscape,” he added.
