NEWS UPDATE: CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE'S ARTICLE ABOUT THE PERSON OF MAZI NNAMDI KANU, HIS AGITATION FOR THE BIAFRA RESTORATION, AND THE HANDLING OF THE CAUSE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

NEWS UPDATE: CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE'S ARTICLE ABOUT THE PERSON OF MAZI NNAMDI KANU, HIS AGITATION FOR THE BIAFRA RESTORATION, AND THE HANDLING OF THE CAUSE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

In this article, Chimamanda reveals the personality of a man called Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. She let the readers know that she is writing to set the record straight hence if the truth is not told in this kind of situation, a terrorist identity will be given to a freedom fighter by those who control the narrative. She observed that most of the aspersion cast on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was done by his own people {the Igbo tribe} even when other tribes like Hausas, Yorubas, and those from the Niger Delta protect and cover their own, even when it is obvious that the committed the crime. 

She described the handling of the case by the federal as beating a child and asking the child not to cry. Other than asking the right question and addressing the issue as it should rather first, they demonize people and call their outcry terrorism. then, their injustice becomes acceptable and their oppression becomes deserving. Whether Mazi Nnamdi is GUILTY OR NOT, is immaterial hence what she saw is a young man passionately fighting for injustice and oppression against his people without Diplomacy.

Now read her article as she wrote it.

Chimamanda Adichie Yesterday I announced that I would unveil my thoughts regarding the IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. Several people reached out, advising me to be neutral and steer clear of political discourse. They meant well for a young female writer with a reputation to protect, an image to project, and the care not to cause offense. I almost yielded but changed my mind this morning. 

The Igbos are the same people about whom I wrote my current published work, In Blood and War, a book set in the then-troubled Biafra. On principle, I consider it unethical to make money off retelling the struggle of this tribe, and in the same breath be silent about their same struggle. It is beneath morality for a writer to choose to speak only when it favours him or her. To retreat to silence in order not to 'taint' reputation. 

To speak on this particular issue, of the man called Nnamdi Kanu, does not tribalize me or my works of literature. Especially as this remains an age-long fear of most writers; the fear of offending, a fear of stepping on toes, of banishment by a displeased societal sect, and even possible ostracism. I speak because the making of a villain or hero often depends on who tells the story. Representation matters when perspective becomes the thin line between an activist and a terrorist.

 WHO IS NNAMDI KANU? ************************ Nnamdi Okwu Kanu is a Nigerian Biafra political activist and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB. In a move to create an independent state for the people of old Eastern Region of Nigeria through an independent referendum, Kanu founded IPOB in 2014. He began his activism for the freedom of Biafra as director of Radio Biafra in 2009, and anchor of Biafra awareness under Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). 

NNAMDI on Referendum, and SECESSION ***************************************** According to Article 2 of the nation's constitution, Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state to be known by the name of the 'Federal Republic of Nigeria'. Our law does not recognize the right of a state to break away from the union. The only way to legally grant such an option is through an amendment to the law. Hence, Nnamdi Kanu's call for a referendum. The same constitution only addresses two scenarios where a referendum is recognized – state boundary adjustment and the recall of a member of the National Assembly. 

Headstrong on this path, Nnamdi Kanu ran into trouble with the Nigerian government and was first arraigned over allegations of terrorism, money laundering, treason, and others, on October 14, 2015. Later granted bail in 2017, he fled Nigeria in September after the military invaded his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, in the southeast of Nigeria. A move that prompted the Nigerian government to secure a court order proscribing IPOB as a terrorist group.

 Nnamdi Kanu's whereabouts remained unknown until his recent arrest a few days ago. He and his co-defendant are currently facing treasonable felony charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. He also faces charges on unlawful possession of firearms and management of an unlawful society. The presiding judge adjourned the case to July 26, 2021. 

******************* Last week, while parceling one of my books to a buyer, a young boy of about 20 years old was making a call beside me. At the end of his call, I understood four things: 1. He was negotiating to pay 200k to obtain a form that will identify him as a Niger Delta militant 2. This young man was not a militant 3. Incriminating himself and mortgaging his future by filling out such a form would enable him to get his share of the amnesty dished out by the Federal government monthly. 4. Our government negotiates with terrorists. **************************

Since the arrest of the IPOB leader, my feed has been agog with posts casting aspersions on his person. Of which majority are made by Igbos, falling over themselves in a frenzy to denounce Nnamdi Kanu. Meanwhile, a regular Hausa man is yet to put aside his Suya trade, cast on ashes and put on sackcloth, and then come on social media to endlessly bemoan the menace of Boko Haram in the country. My ear still itches, awaiting the day a regular Yoruba man would take a chill off a peppery dish to criticize Obj. for not being the messiah we had hoped for. No, he is their brother. They must not speak badly of him. Neither are the Ijaws pausing the oil bunkering trade in the rivers long enough to come online and rant about distancing themselves from militancy in the Niger Delta region. I am yet to see any of these tribes measure the size of their phallus by how hard they throw their kinsman under the bus. But not your average Igbo man. No. Not the average Igbo man with itchy fingers, who masturbates off lambasting Nnamdi. The Igbo man must belong. He must trend. It is fashionable. The Igbos are a bit too extra on this table.

 GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY? -------------------------------------- Still on the call for secession, on the 2nd of June 2021, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made the below 'heartwarming endearment' to the Igbos on Twitter: “Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand." 

The above threat from the house of the presidency stinks of beating a child and asking him not to cry. No one in their right mind departs a good home, one that is working. Shouldn't the real question then be . . . why do these people so badly want to stay apart from the rest of the nation? First, demonize a people, and call their outcry terrorism, then their injustice becomes acceptable, and their oppression becomes deserving. 

Guilty or not guilty? Nnamdi's methodology may be rad, but his intentions are understandable. And for that, I will not throw him under the bus. Unbridled passion, passion without diplomacy, is all I see. SOBER REFLECTIONS **********************