Image
January 20, 2025
SaharaReporters previously reported that Ahmad declared that anyone advocating for the release of Nnamdi Kanu should be considered an enemy of the nation.
Human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, for labelling advocates of the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as enemies of Nigeria.
Sowore, who was the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, stated that Ahmad is merely echoing the sentiments of his benefactors, who treat Nigeria as their personal property and believe only they can dictate its affairs.
SaharaReporters previously reported that Ahmad declared that anyone advocating for the release of Nnamdi Kanu should be considered an enemy of the nation.
The IPOB leader has remained in custody since his re-arrest in June 2021 on terrorism-related charges.
His continued detention has become a public debate, with some groups calling for his unconditional release to foster peace in the southeastern region.
Ahmad in a statement posted on his X account on Sunday, described Kanu as a terrorist and labelled anyone advocating for his release as "a sworn enemy of this country."
Ahmad insists that Kanu must undergo rehabilitation and publicly renounce his derogatory views about Nigeria and its citizens before he can back Kanu's freedom.
But Sowore has fired back at Ahmad, saying his stance, and that of his backers, is the primary reason Nnamdi Kanu is being detained and stands no chance of getting justice in court. Sowore made these comments in a statement on Monday.
He said, “This fellow, Bashir Ahmad is speaking the mind of his benefactors. When Muhammadu Buhari was in power, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was one of the reasons he would get openly aggressive and upset.
“Truth is that Bashir Ahmad just didn’t wake up to make this egregious statement.
“He represents a tendency in Nigeria and they assume Nigeria is their private real estate, and only they determine what could happen inside it.
“It is the reason why I have consistently stated that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is being held hostage by these feudal characters.”
“He stands no chance of getting ‘justice’ in a court of law, and court cases are just a charade meant to create an impression that he’s in indefinite detention as a result of these bogeys they label as charges,” he added.
Tweet URL
Follow the Sahara Reporters channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFClvtH5JM6SSsP7M2Y