Igbo leaders resent Onanuga over utterance against Kanu's freedom

The Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, have taken offence at President Bola Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, for rising against the growing clamour for political settlement on the prolonged detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Onanuga was quoted to have said that "Nnamdi Kanu is currently undergoing trial on treason charges that must proceed without interference."

His statement however drew the ire of the Igbo leaders who queried if Onanuga spoke the mind of President Tinubu who within his two and a half years of administration has given preferential treats to bandits of northern Nigeria and self- determination leaders such as Sunday Igboho of the Yoruba Nation agitation.

In a press statemet titled, "Nnamdi Kanu, Bayo Onanuga and the Rule of Law in Nigeria," the President and Secretary of ILT, Prof Elochukwu Amucheazi and Prof Jerry Chukwuokolo, respectfully, frowned at Onanuga's uncouth interjection on Kanu's freedom negotiation.

ILT said that there is an extent to which societal cohesion should not be trifled with because doing so creates division across the ethnic groups in any society, stating that the rule of law stipulates that the laws of the land should be sacrosanct in treating all citizens equally. 

"This is not the case with Nnamdi Kanu when compared with others like him. We remember that this charge against Kanu has been thrown out by a High Court, a Court of Appeal, and the Federal Government never appealed the judgment.

"It is also in the public domain that the Kenyan Government had condemned the abduction of Nnamdi Kanu in the country. A Kenyan High Court has also declared as illegal the rendition of Kanu from Kenya. Perhaps, the high voltage interest generated by this case has led His Lordship, Hon. Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako to willingly recuse itself from the case. 

"In the same vein, many other judges declined to be involved in this same Nnamdi Kanu's trial. Now that His Lordship Hon. Justice Omotosho has agreed to take up the handling of the case, certain questions arise; is he Bayo Onanuga's relation? Is Onanuga waiting for "his appropriate judgement" as the court judgement? Onanuga's statement seems so assured of the outcome of the matter in court."

The group noted that it is public knowledge that the President-General of Ohanaeze ndi Igbo worldwide, Chief John Mbata had appealed to President Bola Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu to him; and would have been in the spirit of national cohesion and healing had the President listened to the plea to release Kanu while granting clemency to the 157 people the nation forgave last week.

The Igbo leaders said it appreciates those who have placed the need to settle Kanu's matter politically on the front burner, particularly Alhaji Atiku Abubarka and Mr. Omoyole Sowore who stand out as none Igbo in the advocacy. 

"However, we must place on record that Sunday Igboho who committed similar 'offence' of self-determination has gotten his freedom while a governor last Saturday attended the wedding of a bandit's son. Bandits are pampered and offered money in this country while activists like Kanu are prosecuted and refused treatment while undergoing trial. 

"This is certainly against natural justice, equity, fairness and the dictates of his fundamental human rights especially when we weigh it alongside the Nigerian constitution where one is presumed innocent until convicted. This has left one wondering whether there are two different categories of citizens in Nigeria.

"We honestly believe that Nigeria is a 'democratic' regime and not an Empire. We are all witnesses to the unprecedented destruction of the properties of ndigbo in Lagos with impunity. One wonders whether Nnamdi Kanu is not justified by all these for seeking self- determination. There is no justification in our law book where citizens properties are being destroyed as it is being done in Lagos. 

"Can all these apparent ignoble destructive actions of Governor Sanwo Olu be considered as a continuation of the threat by HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu a former AIG to drown ndigbo in the lagoon? One wonders what such a highly placed police officer would have inflicted on ndigbo while in service.

"It is unfortunate that it appears that the National Assembly is incapacitated in oversight in this direction. Enough should be enough," the Igbo leaders said.