Where is Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenuos People of Biafra (IPOB)? This question is being asked by so many people following his clash with the Nigerian military.
The government of the United Kingdom on Thursday, September 28, had asked the federal government of Nigeria to state the whereabouts of British-Nigerian man and leader of IPOB, saying: “We are seeking urgent clarification from the Nigerian authorities about the status and whereabouts of Mr. Kanu, a British-Nigerian man, who has been reported missing since September 14.”
Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, the former governor of Abia state while speaking in an interview said the IPOB leader went to Malaysia from where he travelled to the United Kingdom.
According to Punch, he said: “Kanu was not taken away by the military. Kanu went to Malaysia from where he travelled to the United Kingdom.
“Nnamdi Kanu is in London right now as we speak. He was not arrested by anybody. He left the country on his own.
“One of his relations has spoken to me and explained everything because I wanted to see him and talk to him wherever he was and see how I could meet some Federal Government officials on his issue.
“I also wanted to see ways of talking to the President about him, and find common ground but his family told me that he has left the country, unless they are lying to me.
“I believe, whether he had left the country or not, he is not with the military because I asked the Commander of the 14 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. A.K Ibrahim, who is a very fine and good soldier, well educated and dedicated, and he told me that they don’t know his whereabouts and I am sure, the Department of State Services (DSS) have the same information.
“I also visited the commissioner of police and he said he didn’t know his whereabouts and that they are also looking for him. On Kanu parents whereabouts I don’t know.
“I visited them in December last year and I was not impressed with the discussion I had with the father and the mother because I expected them to have acted better.
“Since then, I have not visited them. Eze Israel Kanu his son and wife I feel that they have not impressed me because they ignored my advice to them to talk to their son on the need to stay at home and avoid public outings.
“I said his people can continue to carry their flags around but that they should not disturb anybody again. They have a right to express themselves but that such rights should be within the limits of our constitution.
“They have the right to carry Biafran flags but they should do so within the limits of the constitution. Once your activities are within the limits of the law, you are in order. You cannot carry Biafra flags and be stopping vehicles and smashing their windscreens.
“You cannot carry Biafra (flags) and be molesting young girls, you also cannot carry Biafra (flags) and be assembling young men every day.
“These are people who have no job and after doing that, they will go and engage in kidnapping or they will go and do armed robbery while some will go and do other things to make money.
“Hunger is a very terrible thing. The traders in the market have warned them to stop the nonsense they are doing. Why should you be extorting money from people in the name of Biafra agitation?
“They are extorting money from people in the market against their will. If the federal and state governments continue to watch and allow all these things to continue, there will be chaos in the state.
“If Kanu had not proved stubborn but listened to advice and kept to the rules of the court, we won’t be where we are now.
“I spoke with Nnamdi Kanu in the prison and gave him quality advice. I counselled him to embrace peace and agree with whatever terms that will set him free.
“I also warned him against allowing his boys to be displaying Biafra flags, coat of arms, organising parades, establishing secret security service, and mounting a guard of honour.”
Meanwhile, A lawyer to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has reacted to the statement credited to a former governor of Abia state Orji Uzor-Kalu on the whereabouts of his client.
Ifeanyi Ejiofor in a statement sent to NAIJ described the former governor as “a drowning man looking for where to perch.
He also said Uzor-Kalu is desperately searching for temporary freedom.
Accusing the former governor of effort that he could end Kanu’s agitation, Ejiofor asked the former governor to make it clearly know if he was in the company of the soldiers during the invasion of his client’s residence.
Ejiofro said: “Orji Uzor-Kalu is a drowning man, looking for where to perch.
He has since outlived his usefulness in Igbo Land. What do you expect from a Man who is enjoying a temporary freedom?.
Struggling to get his head out of grievous corruption charge hanging on his neck. It’s not unlikely that he may spend the rest of his life in prison, sooner than expected.
He saw Nnamdi Kanu’s travail as opportunity to seek relevance from the prosecuting authority.
At sometime, he attempted deceiving the state into believing that he has the magic wand to Nnamdi Kanu’s peaceful agitation.
Now, he has turned into government/military spokesperson. Please ask that confuse Man, if he was in the company of the rampaging soldiers at the time of their murderous invasion of my client’s home?
He is seeking for possible relevance where none exist, opportunity to divert attention. May be he has forgotten he is no longer the governor of Abia state. I advise the discerning mind to kindly disregard his tantrums as that coming from a drowning man.
The military should produce my client wherever they kept him. The matter is now in court, let’s meet in court. Orji Uzor-Kalu, can as well be apply to be joined as a party in the suit. Let his position be on oath,” Kanu’s lawyer concluded.
The former governor in a recent interview with Punch debunked claims that the IPOB leader is missing.
Uzor-Kalu said the IPOB leader was not taken away or killed by the Nigerian military during the raid in his father’s residence in Afara Ibeku, Umuahia in Abia state.
He said one of Kanu’s relative had earlier told him that the IPOB leader left Nigeria to London through Malaysia following the tension between the group members and the military.
He also said although the Biafra agitation is a never ending cause, the people of the southeast region mainly of Igbo extraction should strive towards producing a president of Nigeria instead of the agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra.
Uzor-Kalu during the visit discussed the need and various things that should be done to facilitate the release of IPOB leader.
The former governor also visited the parents of the IPOB leader in home in Afara Ukwu, Umuahia His Excellency Eze Israel Kanu and his wife Ugoeze Sally Kanu.