Expectedly, last week’s piece generated copious reactions from many Nigerians. Some of the questions asked were pointedly answered by some of the responders. Kindly permit me to share some of these comments with you. I do hope that the efforts of the South-East stakeholders on the release of the IPOB leader will not fizzle out like the previous ones.
“Eni Akinsola:
Kanu should be released, Yes. He has to denounce and renounce the madness he created through his tactless utterances, senseless recourse to violence and economic sabotage of his region, I dare suggest. A good piece nonetheless.
Willams Kays:
Learned Silk. They don't know anything else. The problem is Nnamdi Kanu's modus operandi deployed in the agitation. He presented himself as the alpha and omega of Ndi Igbo and followed it with insulting the elders. Some volunteered to guide him to achieve his "aim" of bringing Igbo to the mainstream of Nigeria's politics, he never listened and tagged such altruistic interventions "sabotage" and the elders "saboteur". They left him alone for fear of becoming targets of his ideologically conquered followers. The worst is that, the insecurity in the East started with the activities of the people he trained and armed. The South East was peaceful until Nnamdi Kanu's brand of agitation surfaced. The Igbo elites cannot forgive him for depriving them the ambiance and serenity they hitherto enjoyed in their villages. Contrast the above to the South West, Gani Adams, and Sunday Igboho had elders who were guiding them. Their objectives were spelt out and above all they never threatened the peace of their region. The wellbeing of the region was of paramount importance than their personal interests and ego. OPC never derailed from the objectives of securing Yoruba land and interest.
Ugochukwu Osuagwu:
Williams Kays The phrase "they don't know anything" is insulting. Who are you referring to as not knowing anything? Have you fought the Biafra war before? How old were you when the Biafra War was fought? Please be guided in your use of words.
Williams Kays:
Ugochukwu Osuagwu. I don't know how you comprehended the phrase under review. The Learned Silk asked a rhetorical question why SANs from the South East are not in the Defence Team of Nnamdi Kanu and not speaking up for his release. He then asked, "or do they know something else"? In my response, I stated that, "they don't know anything else". I went ahead to buttress the possible reasons why the SANs from that region are not doing much. How is that an insult..?
Ugochukwu Osuagwu:
Williams Kays okay. Your clarification is fine. Apologies. But for Adegboruwa what has SANs got to do with defending a criminal case? Being SAN does not mean you are good in criminal cases. I have seen many SANs lose cases to Lawyers who are not SANs. It’s immaterial Mr Adegboruwa.
William’s Kays:
Ugochukwu Osuagwu, what he probably meant in his post is that SANs are influential and can collectively wield some pressure on the government to yield and grant some concessions in favour of Nnamdi Kanu. Besides, there must be SANs with adequate criminal trial experience and records to make a difference.
Chibuike Okeke Darlington :
Sir, with all due respect, justice is heightened to justice. Will the release of Nnamdi Kanu bring back Dr Akunyili? And thousands of innocent Igbos, non Igbos, police, armies and other security agencies killed by Nnamdi Kanu terrorist IPOB ESN boys? I am from the South East and if you see what these guys are doing here which are not reported by any media. Over 300 innocent Igbos are killed by this dreaded group every day (This is not a propaganda). No traditional rulers are living in his house because of these ESN IPOB killers because once you have a contrary opinion outside Kanu, they declare you dead! These people have established a business empire with this Biafra of a thing and the best way to stop them is using iron fist on them. President Buhari laid the foundation of justice on Kanu's case. I call upon President Tinubu not to hearken to any calls of releasing Nnamdi Kanu, he did evil before God and humanity. Listen to his voice where he was calling for the killings of security personnels and even their wives and children and that was what his ESN boys are doing now in the South East.
Adewale George Adeyemi:
This is just seeking to be loved by people that never care. How did they treat Prof Wole Soyinka just because of sincere advice to them to be careful of how they speak to others in pursuit of what they want? How did South West go about their desire? Is it by insulting everyone? Is it by killing others? Is it by sharing fake news or by assuming that we are wiser than all and don't need to work with others? Even their presidential candidate introduced religious and tribal sentiments. I guess we know how others go about it.
Ugochukwu Osuagwu:
Adewale George Adeyemi If you dont love Igbos its your problem. The writer is a lover of all.
Adewale George Adeyemi:
Ugochukwu Osuagwu, not about hate but ensuring you don't practice isolation. It shows in the way your people instigate hatred towards Prof Soyinka and start baseless comparison with Prof Achebe as if that is necessary. When MKO was jailed did you witness any killing to fight for him even when he was fighting for his mandate.
Ugochukwu Osuagwu:
Adewale George Adeyemi, which people instigated hatred against Soyinka? Stop this nonsense about Igbo hatred. if Soyinka is abused on social media it becomes Igbos? Stop this hatred that is evident in you. And how does this subject relate to MKO? Was it Igbos that killed MKO or jailed him? I don't understand your digression.
Adewale George Adeyemi:
Ugochukwu Osuagwu, “THINKING ABOUT SOUTH EAST POLITICAL ZONE AND THE WAY FORWARD:
My zone, the South East Nigeria wants to produce the President of Nigeria, they want additional State in the South East but in actions and deeds we are yet to fulfill the Conditions that will lead us to achieve it:
1. We are still pursuing Biafra agenda by secretly supporting IPOB, UGM, and ESN. You want to produce the President of Nigeria and at the same time you want to achieve Biafra.
2. We are not at peace with other Nigerians, we are not making friends, we are not building bridges of cooperation and understanding, we see other Nigerians as enemies.
3. We seem not to understand what it means to win the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We do not know that it is a collective responsibility that will involve all Nigerians East, West, North or South. Every zone is needed. You need their votes.
4. Our people are being killed in the South East in great numbers and we are not raising an alarm or seeking federal government intervention. Every Monday we lose billions in the South East as a result of the primitive, retrogressive and useless “Sit At Home” order by criminals.
5. We think we are educated and smart people in Nigeria but in actions and we have not put it to use. We sit in our comfort zones and allow children to create enemies for all of us across Nigeria and across the world.
6. We refuse to learn from other tribes in Nigeria. Chief MKO Abiola won a presidential election in 1993 and his mandate was stolen, he was killed and all his huge business empire destroyed and yet Yoruba did not go to war. Some of our people think they are cowards but it is called CULTURAL COMPETENCE, MANAGEMENT OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE and WISDOM. OBJ was President for 8 yrs, OSINBAJO was Vice President for 8yrs and now PBAT will be president for 8 years. This is wisdom. If you can wait and not be tired of waiting for the world and everything that is in it belongs to you. “ By Joe Igbokwe.
Bishop Destiny:
This is how a fair minded statesman sees issues and voices his opinion without bias. Tragically, the likes of Joe Igbokwe, with his self-acclaimed knowledge, age, and maturity will only see the mistreatment of South East from his stomach infrastructural disposition of condemning everything about South, with blind eyes the palpable Injustice against the people and that region. Every action carries a reaction.
Oluwaseun Samuel Ekundayo:
Brilliant but I disagree with the question of why can't we have an "IGP and Chief of Army Staff from SE"?. Infact, the agitation for having Chief of Army Staff was supposed to come from SW because the present Chief of Army Staff is the second to be appointed from SW since independence while SE had produced three before the appointment of second Chief of Army Staff from SW. I pray for his release but I doubt if his release can tame the activities of criminals that have been benefiting from the menace in South East.
Olushola Ladi Balogun:
Kudos sir! Was Kanu arrested by Interpol in Kenya? If true, where did 'extra-rendition' happen? Who are those benefiting from the forced marriage of Regions in Nigeria? Don't we have laws in this country that we are advocating 'political settlement '? How will the settlement conditions be acceptable without a referendum?
Chinedu Steve:
Let me quickly add this, IPOB agitation is quite different from the other two you mentioned. This is because the areas you mentioned as to where the South East is being marginalized has been rotated between these two people since 1999 excluding the military Era so what is Miyeth Allah and Sunday Igboho agitating for. So like you rightly said the truth is that you may take Kanu out today but tomorrow another Kanu may rise until that area of marginalization is tackled.”