Igbo World assembly Chairman and the Onowu Regent of Abagana, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze
Igbo World assembly Chairman and the Onowu Regent of Abagana, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to free unconditionally the jailed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Anakwenze who was also a former Presidential Aspirant under the banner of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, believed that Kanu’s freedom is the primary step forward for the Federal Government to meaningfully address the worrime insecurity problem that has for many years been rocking the Southeast.
Besides, he believed that Kanu’s release would ease tension in the region and pave the way for the Tinubu administration to decisively address the longstanding grievances and complaints of injustice and marginalisation in the region which fueled IPOB’s clamour for self determination.
In a statement titled “Nnamdi Kanu is a freedom fighter and not a terrorist”, which he signed, Anakwenze said also that Nigeria needs democracy reformation.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had on Thursday last week sentenced Kanu to a life imprisonment following his conviction on all seven counts of terrorism charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.
However, Anakwenze said that Kanu is a freedom fighter, but not a terrorist because he had not massacred worshippers in Owo; nor kidnapped schoolgirls in Chibok, Dapchi, Kankara, Kaduna or Kebbi; nor overran military bases in Borno; nor partaken in any of the terrorist attacks anywhere in the country.
He said, “Let me make it emphatically clear to the world, Nnamdi Kanu is a freedom fighter and not a terrorist.”
Anakwenze said it was unfair to lock up Kanu “while people from the other sides of the country including the likes of Sunday Igboho, who clamoured for Oduduwa Republic; Shehu Gumi, who negotiates for real terrorists and was in charge of their rehabilitation; and Prof Ango Abudullahi, who said that Nigeria expired in 2014 and everyone should go their ways, are feee.”
He could not understand why terrorists, murderers, and arsonists caught with machine guns, anti-aircraft guns, and other sophisticated weapons are forgiven while unarmed agitators are dwmonosed and criminalized.
Also, he could not understand why the state is seemingly strong against unarmed citizens but weak against armed terrorists.
According to him, “Those who took up arms, killed soldiers, shot down helicopters, kidnapped school children, and slaughtered villagers are called “repentant.”
“They are rehabilitated, fed, clothed, given “skills,” and reinserted into society. Some are allegedly integrated into the military and security architecture.
“But those who agitate with words and make political demands (freedom fighters) are kidnapped in foreign countries, brought back forcefully, locked away, and denied justice for years and eventually sentenced to life on hearsays. No verifiable evidence.
“Why is it that Nigeria is more comfortable rehabilitating those who slaughter citizens than dialoguing with the man asking for a political solution?”
Anakwenze lamented, “When other nations use creative measures to deal with separatists and agitators for governance, Nigeria uses severe measures like kidnapping and life imprisonments and death sentences to subdue them.”
Recommending negotiation with agitators like Kanu, Anakwenze said, “Negotiating with agitators and separatists on keeping the country together is not a weakness. Not at all, its intelligence and it is bringing people together.
“History is littered with proofs that negotiation to bring citizens together works and is verifiable. For instance, the United Kingdom and IRA (Northern Ireland) crisis ended with negotiation. Spain and the ETA (Basque Separatists) crisis ended with political dialogue and reforms.”
He queried, “Why does Nigeria forgive killers of law enforcement officers but choose to negotiate with bandits, pay ransom through the backdoor and pull out carpets for so-called “repentant” terrorists, but locks away agitators of a fair and equitable country?”
Anakwenze said, “It is deceitful for Nigerian leaders to tell the world that Nnamdi Kanu, a clear agitator for a fair and equitable Nigeria or separate, is seen as the main problem while other agitators are overlooked.”
He queried, “Does it make any sense not to negotiate with someone who is calling for a fair and equitable country or secession and roll out the red carpets fir terrorists?
“Why are Nigerian leaders willing to negotiate with people calling for their deaths, killing law enforcement officials and burning our communities, schools, Christians, our churches, but refusing to hear the outcries of clear agitators for a fair and equitable Nigeria?”
According to him, “Those who kill citizens are forgiven by the government; but those who challenge injustice are destroyed with life imprisonment. This is injustice that is likely to mitigate continued insecurity in Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s comfort at rehabilitating those who slaughter citizens, than dialoguing with clear agitators for a fair and equitable Nigeria, and those who are asking for a political solution like Nnamdi Kanu will not produce unity and lasting solution of insecurity and injustice in Nigeria.”
Anakwenze advised President Tinubu to free Kanu and begin the process of building a stronger and more united Nigeria.
He also recommended new ways forward in rebuilding the country into a true federalism, and a haven of justice for all the composite groups and the citizens
In his words, “Nigeria is aware of creators of the bandits, foreign mercenaries from Mali, Senegal, Niger Republic, Chad, Libya and other detractors that were brought to oust Jonathan and yet, it chooses to imprison Nnamdi Kanu, a clear agitator for a fair and equitable Nigeria.
“It is on the above ground that I say unequivocally that Nnamdi Kanu should be freed with no strings attached.
“Open spirited dialogues with legitimate representatives with the Southeastern leaders and stakeholders and other aggrieved sections of the country may be required to make Nigeria whole.
“These dialogues should include ratification of marginalization, security, political exclusion, economic injustice issues plaguing Nigeria.
“Reforming the current constitution of Nigeria to reflect true federalism and regional autonomy should be paramount to a true constitutional reform and a clearly defined redline on violence against civilians and attacks on the security agents that are enforceable and equal to the standards across the board must be outlined.
“Pursuit of terrorists must be relentless. No rehabilitation of terrorists has produced a meaningful or lasting result anywhere in the world.
“I hereby urge the Federal Government to protect Nnamdi Kanu and fast track his release as soon as possible”
Regretting that Nigeria of today is teetering on the brink of collapse, Anakwenze said that only true democracy can revive her from her current comatose to life.
He lamented that since 2009, 125,000 Christians have been killed for their faith in Nigeria. One hundred twenty-five thousand Christians murdered.
According to him, in 2025 alone, the figure is averaging 32 Christian deaths per day.
He regretted, “More than 19,000 churches have been destroyed, that’s three churches per day, every day, for sixteen years. Over 1,100 entire Christian communities have been permanently erased from the map.”
Anakwenze recommended ways out of the problems plaguing the country.
His words, “We want a true democracy in Nigeria beginning with freedom of speech, religion, association and of the press for fellow Nigerians and the entire Africa continent.
“In other words, we want a Nigeria where the various ethnic groups feel that they have a stake in the future of the country. We envision a Nigeria where leadership is based on merit, hard work, and fairness for all and accountability as the measure of our national character.
“We envision a United Nigeria in a true sense of the word “United”, where every Nigerian feels a sense of belonging and not marginalized. Where the governed have trust in the governance and the governed truly believe that they can vote, and be voted in to serve and understand the true meaning of “public trust”.
“We want a country where regardless of one’s ethnic and/or religious background, they feel that they are part of the equation.
“In other words, we envision a Nigeria where ethnic diversity is seen as a strength and an asset to be harnessed and celebrated as part of a national identity and rich heritage. We want a country where Equity, Fairness and Justice should be the guiding principles for good governance.
“Nigeria is rich with multicultural and one might say multi religious groups. All majority rights must be balanced with the minority rights.
“A healthy competitive spirit is the hallmark of great nations. Let’s make our children superstars through healthy and good spirited competitions and excellence equal to that of the rest of the world.
“Our children are equal to the task; after all, they are our human capitals. Nigerian children in America and the entire Diaspora rank between 1%-10% in academics, sports and /or job performances. Our children are equal to the task. They only need our support and encouragement.
“As a secular nation, we should strive for a Nigerian nation irrespective of your geographical divide and or your geographical divide, North and South and/or religious aisle, Christian and Muslim we should all wrap ourselves around one love, and by extension the promise of a great nation with great prospects.
“Let us have a great biblical doctrine of “love your neighbor as yourself” and leave behind the divisive tribal and religious bigotry that plagues our nation.
“We should remember that Abraham is the “father” of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and African spirituality (Chukwu Abiama) which are collectively referred to as the Abrahamic religions because of their respective traces to all lineages and the respective religions.
“Understanding of religions in context may be daunting, it may help soften the minds of the reasonable and encourage the spirit of brotherhood among all religious persuasions.”
