“By Jailing Nnamdi Kanu, You Created Uncontrollable Groups, Carrying Guns, Enforcing Sit-at-Home Orders”,  Emmanuel Kanu

By Gideon Njoku

Jailed Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother,  Prince Emmanuel, has said that  detaining the  Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, has done more damage to the Nigerian government than to the IPOB leader.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Emmanuel  asserted that the  incarceration of his elder  brother has turned out to be a self-inflicted wound by the Federal Government.

He posited that the IPOB leaders  detention has cost Nigeria’s its international credibility, and worsened insecurity and economic challenges in the South-East. Worse, he said, it has brought forth the emergence of  radical separatist groups.

The Federal Government’s handling of his brother’s case he said, has raised questions about Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law, noting, especially, his extraordinary rendition from Kenya and the Court of Appeal judgment that discharged him.

Emmanuel maintained that the Federal Government’s refusal to release him as ordered by  the Appellate Court has damaged Nigeria’s image before international community and human rights organisations. He also claimed it has cost Nigeria’s potential investors.

He linked the IPOB leader’s continued incarceration to the prolonged Monday sit-at-home order in the South-East and alleged that the situation disrupted commercial activities, education and every aspect of daily life in the region.

Emmanuel, also, claimed that the development contributed to killings, fear and insecurity, and forced the government to waste significant resources to military operations in the South-East.

He, also posited that Kanu’s incarceration attracted more sympathy for him among some Igbo people, and from even individuals who, before now, did not support the separatist movement.

According to him, detaining Kanu who advocated a non-violent referendum has created a vacuum that is now filled  by more radical groups.

Emmanuel: “When you jail the leader who was preaching non-violent referendum, you create a vacuum. That vacuum was filled by more violent and uncontrollable groups enforcing sit-at-home with guns. The government now has a bigger security problem than IPOB.”

He also claimed that the South-East has cost massive economic losses as a result of the sit-at-home order to the tune of N10 billion in commercial activities every Monday in the five Eastern States. Added to that, he boasted that the prolonged detention of his brother has increased his influence instead of weakening it. The IPOB leader, Emmanuel said, is now being portrayed by his supporters as a political prisoner and martyr.

“The government tried to silence a man, but amplified his voice worldwide,” and added that dialogue and a political solution would have been a better option for resolving what he chose to call “the crisis.”