By Cajetan Mmuta
Awka
Irreconcilable key factors were said to have been instrumental to the avoidable Nigeria/Biafra civil war that cost the wiped valuable generation of citizens. To date, the pains of excruciating socio-economic and political injustices have refused to leave the scenes of the South-East geo-political zone and other sections of the country.

Sadly, successive governments have paid deaf ears to the yearnings and aspirations of the zone for fair, equitable, and balanced recognition of potentials of the zone, as well as unhindered inclusion into the main scheme of things.

To date, the zone with the command of huge commerce and trade as well as human capacity has continued to clamour for a shot at the nation’s presidency of one of its own as had been done with other zones. The move, the people strongly believe, is part of measures to assuage their pains of yesteryears and obvious injustices.

For instance, it is on record that the South-East zone has five states as against six states each in the kitty of five other geopolitical zones that make up the country. Also, the zone has, tactically, and severally been schemed out in the mindless appointments into key or sensitive positions in every government.

These and many more are part of the agitation by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kanu. The IPOB movement, no doubt, has permeated into the confines of South-East states and beyond with the members’ strong and massive agitation for freedom from the oppressive grip of the state and possible secession.

Apprehensive of the massive support enjoyed by IPOB members, the Federal Government intensified the manhunt for Kanu and his collaborators which paid off in June last with his dramatic arrest in Kenya and eventual extradition to Nigeria.

So, began the Federal Government’s trial of Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal High Court over treasonable felony, terrorism, and other criminal charges. The IPOB leader is presently in the solitary facility of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja. His team of lawyers led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq, has battled to secure his release, to no avail yet.

However, the Federal Government, in October 2021, proscribed the group as a non-state actor following the activities of members of the body.

The government believes that the group has posed a serious security threat with its security outfit, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which according to it, runs contrary to the legally constituted security agencies such as the military, police, Nigeria Security, and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other paramilitary bodies charged with the responsibility of ensuring the security of lives and property across the country.

In addition, the government felt challenged with the emergence of a dangerous state of insecurity in some parts of the country, especially, in the North-East, and the spate of killings, kidnappings, and destruction of farmlands leading to deaths which were said to have been sparked by activities of suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Worse still, there was alarming and violent descent on government institutions, particularly, police stations, correctional facilities, and other public buildings, with attendant losses in personnel and property.

The rage and mayhem in Imo State, Awka, and other parts of Anambra, Enugu, Abia, and others, in the South-East zone, were frightening.

The months of destruction following clashes between IPOB members and teams of joint Special security outfit in Orlu, Mbano, Orsu, Atta, Akatta, Umutanzi, Okporo, Oguta, Izombe, Orsumuoghu, Ihiala, and Awo Omamma, Omuma and several communities in Imo and Anambra states, have left regrettable dents in the areas. A countless number of individuals have lost their lives in the siege.

Again, an estimated N10 billion had gone down the drain due to the weekly sit-at-home directive on residents, businesses, and markets across the state in the geo-political zone. Nevertheless, the restrictions on movement, businesses, and markets by IPOB have since been relaxed, except for days when Kanu is expected to appear in court.

This move to soft-pedal is in line with the pleas, calls, and persuasions by prominent Igbo leaders at various levels. Late last year, politicians and their parties were ordered by groups suspected to be unknown gunmen to remove all forms of party logos and flags from branded campaign vehicles as well as party secretariats during the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State.

The rage by the hoodlums led to the sudden death of the husband of the late former Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Dora Akunyili, Chike, and seven others, a development that irked the Federal Government, among others.

Yet there are tinges of suspicion about the activities of the body. For instance, there is an alleged threat by IPOB to stop schools from singing Nigeria’s national anthem and worrisome attempts to implement Biafra’s agenda in the region such as wearing dresses that promote the Biafran agitation.

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Last year, a nonagenarian and former aviation minister in the First Republic, Mbazuluike Amaechi, had led prominent Igbo leaders including ex-governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife of Anambra State to Aso Rock to plead for Kanu’s unconditional release, a move President Buhari said was too heavy for him to consider.

They had also sought a political solution to the IPOB leader’s fate and other unpalatable situations like the security siege in Igbo land that have negatively and grossly affected lives, living, free movement, and commercial activities in the zone.

It is on record that over 2,000 indigent youths of the South-East are missing in the past few months, following raids and wanton killings by security agencies.

President Buhari had during a live television interview last week declared dismissed any political solution for Kanu and insisted that he should be allowed to face his trial in court, a statement that sparked condemnations from concerned Nigerians.

Speaking on the development, a lawyer, Chibunna John Okoli-Akirika, said, “The truth must be told, the Kanu issue, as I said before, you have to look at it from the political, legal, and sociological perspectives of Nigerian enterprise.

“Taking it up politically, one can say that Nnamdi Kanu is the very product of Nigerian politics; once a system does not guarantee fairness, justice and once a system encourages discrimination and lop-sidedness in all ramifications, certainly there are bound to be agitations. And those agitations can take different forms and shapes and that’s why Nnamdi Kanu is a product of the Nigerian state.”

He noted that “Legally, the Federal Government has slammed charges against him. The Federal Government is under a duty to prosecute him within a very reasonable time and that’s a constitutional mandate as provided for in Section 36 (1) of 1999 as amended, which stipulates that every Nigerian citizen is entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time.

“If the Federal Government is mindful of prosecuting him, there is no need to ask for adjournment or playing to the gallery or adopting delay tactics. They should roll out their prosecuting armour and then call the witnesses. For more than six months the man has been there and they are yet to call witnesses.

“So, if the Federal Government feels they do not have the requisite evidence to effectively prosecute him, they can look for the political option and then look at what the young man is saying. That’s why I said that fundamentally and at all material times, Nnamdi Kanu is a product of the failed Nigerian state. And if the leaders fail to do the needful the led should occupy the space.

“We have been talking about the marginalisation of the South-East, political consideration of the South-East, the exploitation of the South-East, and what is playing out in Nigeria today. All these things are going to justify all those things Nnamdi Kanu is saying.

“Today, Akeredolu, APC governor from South-West is saying that the Presidency shall be zoned to southern Nigeria; today majority of southern governors are saying they want state police, and today. Ohanaeze, Middle Belt, Afenifere, they are saying let us restructure, and if our collective issues are being canvassed, why not?

“What I will say is that all that the Federal Government should do is to free Nnamdi Kanu on the first point that’s within the context of centrifugal and centripetal tendencies in Nigeria. Buhari cannot come out to say that there won’t be peace unless the grazing route is respected, and you want people who own land to say it’s not their land. It can’t work.

“So, if the Federal Government is talking about protecting a particular interest, a particular segment or tribe of the country, they should also caution him to also protect other segments of the country.

“That’s why you have Nnamdi Kanu that is why you have Sunday Igboho; that’s why we have agitations in the South-East and Middle Belt. That’s even why you have Boko Haram. They said they want an Islamic state outside Nigeria. And others who do want to live here should be allowed to have their state.

“And if for any reason the Nigerian system cannot accommodate the conflicting options, the solution is very simple, either you look for a loose federation where everybody will develop at his or her own pace, or you call for separation.

“Nigeria is not an exception. We used to have USSR, Slovakia, Slovenia, UK, and I am happy that people are now saying that the unity of this is negotiable. Let us come together in brotherhood, devise ways and means of living together as brothers and sisters. But if for any reason we can’t do that, let’s go our separate ways. It is as simple as that.”

There is no doubt that today, the South-East is a conquered area with heart-rending atrocities by hired state actors who loot and destroy the zone and its people at will. Unfortunately, tensed and worrisome as the situation remains, countless illegal arms no doubt are in the wrong hands and the safety of many is endangered.

“It is, therefore, the responsibility of relevant governments in the five states to take steps to mop up their states of such time bomb for a secured future, else they will be dangerous landmines that spare no one is allowed to continue unabated.

In his contribution, former aviation minister Amaechi explained why he led a delegation of Igbo leaders to meet with President Buhari over the fate of Nnamdi Kanu.

He said, “I led a small delegation of selected Igbo leaders to see the President of Nigeria on the growing tempo of violence in Nigeria, especially in the South-East, pointing out that the visit was targeted at finding peace and true reconciliation and that a positive result was being expected out of the encounter.

“I am deeply worried and pained by the new spate of violence in which some policemen and civilians were said to be killed. I am appealing to all who may be involved in these crimes to please ceasefire and give peace a chance whether they are of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) or known or unknown or agents or any organ or personality to please stop it now.”

The nonagenarian added, “You can never achieve peace or reconciliation through violence. As the only surviving member of the government of the First Republic, I appeal to all to respect my age and let me help to make peace before returning to my maker. I am trying to bring peace and freedom to the Igbo land.

“In Anambra and Imo, you will like to see what is happening there. People traveling are made to come down, passengers in a bus or lorry; men, women, and children. Women who are pregnant, women who carry children at the back, are made to raise their hands above their heads.

“This is not a free country. And so, these are the things I want to stop and I want to stop the killings. I have the capability of saying that.”

According to Amaechi, “One of the discussions I had with the President was the effect of Kanu’s detention and the whole situation and how it should be handled to reconcile the Igbo side of this country, which was in the leadership of the struggle for independence and creation of the country with the rest of the country.

“They have been isolated since the war ended, they are not given positions in the country and the economy is being destroyed. The only seaport at Port Harcourt is closed because it is close to Ndigbo. People are suffering, people are in hell now.”