Don’t abandon Kanu, Bishop tells Ndigbo

(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 18, 2015 Pro-Biafra supporters shout slogans in Aba, southeastern Nigeria, during a protest calling for the release of a key activist. The protesters support the creation of a breakaway state of Biafra in the southeast and want the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is believed to be a major sponsor of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and director of the pirate radio station Radio Biafra. – In a region where separatist sentiments often flare up among the indigenous Igbo, officials are pointing at the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra or IPOB that agitates for a separate state.
But the situation is far from clear.
IPOB says it is falsely accused in a bid to divide the separatists who are already split over strategy. Some southern leaders accuse rivals of sponsoring attacks to discredit them. (Photo by Pius Utomi EKPEI / AFP)

Archbishop of Enugu Province (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma has asked Ndigbo to stand behind the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, saying the agitation for which he is being persecuted was for Ndigbo against the anomalies created by the Federal Government.

He insisted that the agitation by Kanu and his IPOB was exacerbated following President Muhammadu Buhari’s actions and appointments, which clearly did not recognise the Southeast as a bonafide geopolitical zone of the country.

The Archbishop stressed that having engaged in agitation for the good of the people, Ndigbo should not deny or abandon him in his trial but should support and pray that God sees him through.

Chukwuma, who spoke to newsmen at the Bishop’s Court, Enugu, explained that what he told a national daily on the arrest of Kanu was that going, by the way, social media described it, it was obvious his arrest and extradition to Nigeria was not done in accordance with international regulations.

He said, “We feel very sad and disturbed the way he was arrested. Having now brought him to Nigeria, what we want to say is that we are not going to deny him. Kanu is still for us and we will continue to support him because the agitation he had was provoked by President Buhari himself.

When Buhari was doing a lot of appointments and selective negligence, which provoked him to speak that we are marginalised, he did not do it with violence.

“So if you are talking about 11-count-charge or whatever, you have to ask what caused it? And we are saying whatever be the case, we are watching and we are appealing to all our people in the East, everywhere to be calm and allow peace to reign. Let us see where the judgment is going.”

Chukwuma expressed sadness that that government could go abroad to arrest self-determination agitators but refuse to arrest bandits and terrorist herdsmen that had made living in Nigeria a nightmare.

He advised the government to ensure strict adherence to the rule of law and observance of fundamental human rights in handling of Kanu.