FG pitting Nnamdi Kanu against the Igbo — Methodist Archbishop

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is being held in jail without charge or trial. The Methodist Archbishop of the Okigwe Archdiocese, Most Rev. Biereonwu Livinus Onuagha, has accused the Nigerian government of using this detention as a pawn against the Igbo people.

According to him, the Nigerian government intends to use Mazi Kanu’s prolonged arrest to incite Ndigbo to lash out fiercely, much to a mother hen defending her young, in order to pounce on those thought to be the ruling party’s targets.

Onuagha expressed regret that the government’s Judiciary and Executive branches collaborated to keep Mazi Kanu in custody in order to incite the Ndigbo to take action that would result in an attack.

Because peace overcomes all challenges, he asked the Ndigbo to maintain their adherence to the law and display the maturity they have always been known for when it comes to issues that threaten their existence.

“I have returned to discuss the ongoing incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which is yet another example of the executive arm of government interference with the judiciary in Nigeria,” stated Onuagha, who recently underwent a successful eye surgery.

“Despite being absolved by the Judiciary of his charges, Nnamdi Kanu remains imprisoned due to the flagrant disobedience of the executive. The Judiciary has been effectively silenced on this matter as subsequent attempts to adjudicate over what has already been decided are met with resistance from those in power.

“My interpretation of the continued detention of Mazi Kanu by the Nigerian government is that the situation reflects an Igbo proverb “Eji Nwa Okuko arata Nne ya” which means, that when you hold a chick in your hand, you attract the undivided attention of its mother hen either for good or ill intention – whether to protect or to harm the mother.

“The Nigerian government is using Nnamdi Kanu as a pawn against Igbo people, hoping they will react aggressively like a mother hen protecting her chicks. However, I believe that Igbo people have learned their lessons and instead pray for wisdom for their ‘chick’ (Nnamdi Kanu), to handle the situation peacefully and emerge unscathed from incarceration so that all aims and aspirations may be achieved.”

On the insecurity ravaging Nigeria, Onuagha attributed it to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to secure Nigeria’s borders, which resulted in unwanted elements entering Southern Nigeria pretending to be herdsmen and continued killing of innocent citizens and abducting individuals throughout South East and Benue State.”