From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
The return of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to Igbo land threw up another round of jubilation as the people appreciated God for saving his life to return to his fatherland alive.
Though they were unhappy that they could not give him the heroic welcome he deserved due to the stringent bail conditions given by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja, the people and groups agreed that Kanu’s return was a major victory for the Biafran struggle.
Those who spoke to Sunday Sun called on the federal government to release the other freedom fighters held in various prisons and security custodies in Nigeria.
Movement for the Actualization of Biafra (MASSOB) regretted the stringent bail conditions that barred the people from trooping out to receive Kanu but express joy that he was free.
The Leader of MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu said, “MASSOB members actually jubilated over the release of our brother Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. His release calls for a jubilant celebration but still we can’t easily forget the fallen heroes who willingly gave their lives in active services. His release forms the bulk of my last National meeting where MASSOB members were in jubilant mood.
“As Mazi Nnamdi Kanu arrived Biafra land, though it was unfortunate that he wasn’t welcomed as earlier planned because of the stringent conditions attached to his bail, MASSOB advice him not to relent or weary as the people of Biafra holds him in high esteem.
“As today’s most celebrated Biafra hero, we counsel that he should be carefully minded of hypocrites that flocks themselves around him, 80 per cent of the class of people flocking around Nnamdi Kanu today are the same class of people that surrounded Ralph Uwazuruike (former MASSOB leader) when he was released from prison in 2007. They succeeded in deceiving him (Uwazuruike) with mundane things which resulted in his lust for wealth. Nnamdi Kanu must maintain the tempo of his integrity and consistency.
“MASSOB will continue to partner with all progressive pro Biafra groups including IPOB in actualization and restoration of the sovereign state of Biafra. We also demand that all remaining pro Biafra detainees across Nigeria prisons must be released. MASSOB assures the people of Biafra to keep their hope alive as the independency of a sovereign state of Biafra will soon be actualized.
“We also believe that as no individual Pro Biafra group can actualize Biafra alone, hence there is urgent need to build cohesion and a common platform that will bind all selfless Pro Biafra groups. Such development will send severe jittery and fears to our oppressors.”
The Publicity Secretary of Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), Rev. Fr. John Odey reacting to the return of Kanu to Igbo land said, “I thank God that Nnamdi Kanu is back, I thank God because Kanu’s coming back is the beginning of freedom. This shows the saying that something that goes up must come down. His coming back is an assurance that freedom is coming for the Igbos in Nigeria.
“In summary, any adult Igbo man knows what led to the Nigeria-Biafran war, which is the operation of the Igbo man and killing of the Igbos and since after the war, the condition of the Igbos have worsen. It is like jumping from frying pan to fire, the war ended and marginalization of Igbos took over.
“When Kanu was taken and put in Kuje prison for almost two years now, it was like the whole of the Igbos were chained but the good thing about Kanu’s terrible experience is that when you had committed no crime and was made to suffer for crying for justice, you automatically become a Nelson Mandela in your own way, a symbol of Justice and freedom and when that happens you attract the attention of the whole world.
“So, Kanu’s incarceration is a blessing in disguise for the Igbos because it has exposed the plan to destroy the Igbos completely in Nigeria. That plan can no longer work out because the Amnesty International has taken up the matter and told the world that the Igbos are being so badly treated.”
A Journalist with one of the national dailies, Mr. Tony Okafor expressed gratitude to God that Kanu returned home to Igbo land alive and thanked the federal government for releasing.
He said, “We are really grateful that he is back. In as much as some of us didn’t like the bail condition they gave him, we thank the federal government for releasing him in the spirit of democracy.
“What we are asking now is for them to relax his bail conditions so that we will freely see him and embrace him because the condition that he cannot sit with 10 persons at a time is a strong restriction to the fundamental right of association. Besides, it is against Igbo culture for us not to receive our son upon such return.
“We also beg President Buhari to release others still in detention. I advise Igbo leaders to have an in-house discussion with Kanu in the traditional Igbo method to persuade him to relax some of the objectives of his mission.”
For Chief Chukwudi Elechi, an entrepreneur in Awka, the return of Kanu to Igbo land was a welcome development as his continued detention was an insult to the Igbo nation.
He said, “It is a welcome development, especially for a man who was put out of circulation for two years. For me it is particularly a thing of joy not because his coming out will give any hope for the Biafran struggle but because Kanu is our brother and his continuous detention then was like a slight on the Igbos.
“We were thinking that the federal government headed by a northerner was furthering the hatred that fueled the initial quest for succession in 1967; now that he is out, not minding the stringent bail conditions we the Igbos are at least happy that our brother who was taken away from us is back.
“We are therefore calling on the federal government to make haste and release all Biafran freedom fighters that are in various detention facilities across the country.”
An Okada rider, Nduka Agwu said Kalu’s return has giving them hope for the restoration of Biafra, stressing that no one can stop the actualization of Biafra.
He said, “We are very happy that our leader Nnamdi Kalu has returned to this our land, just don’t worry because we are now stronger in our quest though not violent but the tempo of our activities will increase seriously now.
Kalu is our Oga, now that he is here were will give everything to this struggle because he has shown selfless service, he has shown that he cannot sell out, not like the other one that used us to enrich himself. Biafra is God’s mandate and no one can stop it.”