The First Arrest Of Nnamdi Kanu
Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested on 14 October 2015 in Lagos under charges of Treason and was charged to court. He was bailed on 28 of April 2017 with regards to his health. But was given conditions on how to be found within the country.
The Activities Of Nnamdi Kanu
The self-acclaimed leader as been attributed by members of the IPOB portrays a flamboyant gassy concept of kicking against the activities of the Nigerian Government under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
These activities were carried out through Nnamdi Kanu’s live broadcast on an online medium, known as Radio Biafra.
The Aftermath of Nnamdi Kanu’s Activities and its Effect on his Part:
Since 2017, the Nigerian Government has been on the go for the Re-Arrest of the leader of The Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu for posing security threats and defaming the prestige of the Presidency.
The Presidency attributed the security uproar in the South East in May 2021 to the Leader of the group IPOB. It could be recalled that in the last quarter of 2020, there were too many messages sent by Nnamdi Kanu from his hidden location in the United Kingdom. In these series of messages, he warned the Eastern Governor of the implications of their none supportive move towards the agitation of Biafra.
These issues turned out sour when the leader of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), was killed under the injunction of Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma as alleged by members of IPOB.
Then came the onslaught by trigger-happy young men who maraud the streets of Owerri in Commando style, brandishing assault rifles and shooting sporadically in the air and at security agents. These men got the name, “Unknown Gunmen (UGM)”.
Just as expected, the leadership of Nigeria quickly pointed accusing fingers at Nnamdi Kanu. Even though he refuted the accusations, but his hate speeches and violent words made it quite difficult to disassociate him from the imbroglio of attacks by these Unknown Gun Men in parts of Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Abia State.
The Re-Arrest of Nnamdi Kanu
Before his arrest by the Federal Government of Nigeria, a One Million Naira bounty was placed on the head of Nnamdi Kanu. The Federal Government Security operatives tracked Mazi Nnamdi Kanu within the environs of the United Kingdom but were unable to arrest him because he is a citizen of Britain; hence, his arrest must be because he truly committed a defined crime beyond every legal doubt.
On Tuesday 29th June 2021, Nnamdi Kanu was rearrested. Amid all the criticisms trailing the arrest, the Buhari-led Nigerian government blatantly refused to reveal the location of his arrest.
The Federal Government slated his trial to hold on July 26, and all eyes and ears are tentatively open itching in anticipation of the outcome.
Nnamdi Kanu’s Re-arrest; Another Wrong Move by FG
The Federal Government of Nigeria already has a one-leg shift in the re-arrest of Nnamdi Kanu through the process they followed in arresting the Leader.
It is quite unfortunate that up till now the Government of Nigeria has not disclosed the location at which Nnamdi Kanu was arrested. The arrest has some illegal undertone if adequately scrutinized. And by this means, there may be more problems that would manifest out his trial.
An arrest on an individual with dual citizenship must be done under a mutual trial in court. The Nigerian Federal Government also did not respect the fact that Nnamdi Kanu is also a citizen of Britain.
Again, looking at the situation of things in the South-Eastern part of the country, the arrest wrongful trial of the IPOB leader may exacerbate the already volatile situation in the region.
What the Federal Government should have done Right
There is always a Catholic Church in every part of Rome, but it doesn’t make the Romans priest in every part of their lives.
There are too many issues that are prompting the call for secession from the different tribes that make up Nigeria. The Igbos is one of such tribes that want to secede, and some of the issues they have always cited as a reason are the stigmatization of the Igbo tribe and the continued political bias against them.
The Federal Government of Nigeria should ensure that both political appointments and official projects which are shipped Northern parts of the country should reach out to all other parts of the country. This will all other tribes a sense of belonging and instill patriotism in them.
The Government of Nigeria should desist from the near “jungle-treatment” which they are already meeting out on Nnamdi Kanu. The Federal Government should henceforth ensure that none of his fundamental human rights is abused.
South-Eastern Nigeria and all other parts of the country should be given adequate infrastructural attention. This will help subdue the clamor for secession causing many problems in the country now.
The Government should reach a consensus with Ohanaze Ndi Igbo, to have a mutual agreement on issues that is of basic interest to both parties.
There should also be sanctioning of Media content concerning the issue of secession in the country, as they are part of the reasons why many issues have gone wrong.
Too much attention to issues that are not of human development by the Federal Government of Nigeria is also one of the reasons for the unending chaos in the country. Federal Government should invest much time in developing the country, lifting it out of poverty and fighting against Terrorism rather than fighting leaders of Groups who want to secede.
There are means of solving the issue bordering on agitations and the quest for secession. The FG should discontinue its usual tradition of using military cum autocratic force on those clamoring for secession. The best move is to pay adequate attention to the developmental needs of such regions by providing them with the dividends of good governance. Provide security of lives, properties, and fundamental rights of the people.
Need for dialogue
An agitation group is never a terrorist group, so applying the system of dialogue will never be a mistake on this part.
Many people will ask, is there any need for dialogue? Yes, there is an important need for dialogue which has proven to be effective in most cases. The administration of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua made good use of dialogue to contain the excesses of the Niger Delta Militants.
The issue of secession did not start under the administration of Muhammadu Buhari. But it was due to the high tribal sentiment of the current administration that gave rise to many tribes’ clamor for a country of their own.
Federal Government should dialogue with the easterners on the issues of:
- Election of an Igbo President;
- Urgent development of the region;
- Trues adherence to Federal Character principle of appointments
- FG’s noninterference in gubernatorial elections.
- Removal of RUGA from the Agricultural scheme of Nigeria.
These 5 factors are among the key issues fanning the embers of secession. And if an unbiased agreement should be reached, the Igbos may gladly walk the unity course of One Nigeria till the cord breaks endlessly, then there will be a country.
