Those Agonizing Over Nnamdi Kanu’s Arrest -By Azuka Onwuka

I see many people agonizing or jubilating over Kanu’s arrest. I will address those agonizing and ignore those jubilating.

Were you ever thinking of a struggle without arrests of the arrowhead? What type of struggle is that biko? A tea party?

Kanu started IPOB in 2012, but please how many Nigerians knew Kanu and IPOB even by May 28, 2015? Very few. How did he become popular? Was it not through Buhari’s poorly thought-out actions? If not for Buhari, would IPOB not have been like another MASSOB seen but not taken seriously? First Buhari made his first 30 appointments without a single Igbo person, (and has continued virtually like that for the past 6 years). Through his radio messages, Kanu exploited that hatred Buhari has shown the Igbos and it resonated with the people. Then Buhari added the icing on the cake by arresting and detaining Kanu and refusing him bail, even when many courts granted him bail. That made Kanu a household name.

Nnamdi Kanu in handcuffs at the Federal High Court Abuja.

When Kanu was arrested in 2015, many jubilated like they are doing today. But some weeks later, the same Kanu became the most important subject of discussion in Nigeria until even the government of Buhari began to negotiate with him.

Buhari has proved repeatedly that he is not capable of making the right judgement when issues concerning those he considers his enemies are concerned.

Therefore, in the months to come, whether Kanu is facing trial or jailed, Buhari will have made him more popular and given Kanu’s cause more power and bite.

It is for things like this that people like us have continued to harp on the need for IPOB to have a structure that does not revolve round an individual. The apartheid-era ANC structure is a good example. There should be a charismatic leader plus other known and capable lieutenants who can keep the fire burning from all angles, whether the leader is present or absent. There should NEVER be anybody called Supreme Leader or seen as one or treated as one. No leader should be so powerful that he cannot be countered by his lieutenants or even outsiders when he derails. The organization should be supreme, not the leader.

The caustic language and cursing of anybody who disagrees with the modus operandi should also stop. It cheapens the cause. Also all ethnic groups who are victims of Nigeria’s cul-de-sac should be treated as allies and not enemies.
Nigeria was tottering for many years, but Buhari has been pushing her towards the cliff. Arresting Kanu will not solve the existential threat Nigeria is facing. Rather it will even worsen it. But short-sighted people will not see it.