“Silence Won’t Help You” - IPOB Knocks South-East Governors For Keeping Quiet On Nnamdi Kanu’s Detention

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has berated governors and political leaders in the South-East region of Nigeria for remaining silent on the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Nigerian government despite having been discharged and acquitted by the Court of Appeal.

Recall that a three-man panel of the Appeal Court on Thursday ruled that Kanu’s rendition from Kenya in June 2021 by the Nigerian government was illegal. The court discharged and acquitted Kanu of treasonable charges against him and ordered his release from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).

However, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Abubakar Malami, insisted that Kanu was only discharged but not acquitted.
Hence, almost a week after the court ruling, the IPOB leader is still in detention.
While calling for his unconditional release, IPOB in a statement lambasted Southeast governors and political leaders, saying if they failed to demand for Kanu’s release at this point in time, it meant that their previous visits to Aso Rock Villa to plead for Kanu’s release were hypocritical.

The statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, “Following the landmark judgment of October 13, 2022, by the Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja that unequivocally discharged and acquitted Mazi Nnamdi KANU, of all the trumped up charges brought against him, the silence from South East governors and political leadership gives room for concern. 

“We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is compelled to ask Igbo Governors, Senators, House of Representative members, Ministers, House of Assembly Members in every State in Biafraland why the silence over the continued illegal detention of their son, despite the fact that a court of competent jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal, has discharged and acquitted him of all the charges brought against him by the Nigerian government?

“IPOB has been observing  the countenance of Igbo politicians from the moment the Appeal Court ruled in favor of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and wonder whether this silence is as a result of these leaders being afraid of the government or whether they are accomplices to the kidnapping and extraordinary renditioning of their son? If they are afraid of the Fulani cabal who are running the affairs of this country, it means they are cowards and are unworthy to represent our people in every event in Nigeria.

“IPOB is asking these questions because our patience is not and will not be infinitely elastic. The continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the DSS notwithstanding the Court of Appeal ruling and the accompanying silence from the South East political leaders leaves much to be desired.

“The ruling of the Court of Appeal should embolden the South-East governors and politicians of the South-East extraction to demand that the rule of law must be upheld rather than be concerned or afraid of being witch-hunted if they stand firm and strong in condemning the utterances and actions of Alhaji Abubakar Malami and the APC Government.

“Malami and his people can hate Biafrans, especially Ndigbo, as they like but their hatred cannot take the grace of God from us and will never stop justice from prevailing in the case of Mazi Nnamdi KANU the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

“Igbo Leaders and stakeholders should stand as men and women with balls and make their stand known to us. This is not the time to remain silent or sit on the fence.

“Malami has already said that Igbo leaders will decide if our Leader, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be released or not. It means that Malami knows that there is a conspiracy between the Federal Government and Igbo politicians.

“We are advising South East governors and Igbo political leaders that their long quietness over Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's illegal detention will not help them. If they can keep mute at a time like this, it means all their calling and visitation to Aso Rock for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's release was just hypocrisy. We expect them to be speaking at the top of their voices, shouting, and calling for this terrorist Government to honor their own words.

“They should remember that President Buhari promised them not to interfere with the Judiciary and that the Judiciary will decide MNK's faith. Since the Judiciary has decided, why are these leaders mute? If other people from other ethnic groups can openly call on this Government to obey the Appeals Court ruling, why are Igbo Leaders hiding under their wives wrapper?

“Now is the time for all politicians, traditional rulers, elders, religious leaders, women's groups, and businessmen and women to stand up against this government's decision and demand for the release of their great son, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as the Appeal Court ruled. If they don't stand up now, let none of them ever open his or her mouth to blame us for what may happen.

“Everybody knows that our leader, Mazi Nnamdi KANU is having health issues since he was illegally abducted and kept in DSS solitary confinement. Now that the Appeal Court has discharged and acquitted him, he should be released without delay. God forbid anything untoward happens to him. Both Nigeria and Igbo Leaders will understand that IPOB is highly determined to take Biafra by any means possible.