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The Nigeria- Nnamdi Kanu Case: British Columnist, Colin Freeman Writes - Politics - Nairaland

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The Nigeria- Nnamdi Kanu Case: British Columnist, Colin Freeman Writes by Youngadvocate(m): 7:56pm On Mar 08, 2017
One who follows the British born writer and columnist, Colin Freeman, will possibly develop some mild shock over his sheer exposition, you may say, of the the exasperated machinations and intrigued drama that have concealed the IPOB-Nigerian case.

Freeman takes us through the experience so far, revealing his file of investigative journalism. And don't be suprised, if the IPOB get the favours from his stand point.

"Today, Igbo people live everywhere from Canada and Dubai to China. The original Radio Biafra, "which broadcast propaganda" from a jeep-mounted studio to avoid Nigerian warplanes, fell silent. But eight years ago Kanu restarted it from London, and as the 50th anniversary of the conflict looms, it is once more campaigning for self-actualisation. As Kanu once put it, ‘No amount of intimidation, arrest, torture, deprivation will stop Biafra from coming.’

This time, the campaign is also enjoying its very own ‘Brexit boost’. For if Britain doesn’t want to be part of the European superstate, why should Igbos remain part of a disastrous behemoth like Nigeria, with its 250 different ethnicities, 500 tongues and 170 million people?

After all, five decades on from the war, the Nigerian state has become a byword for inept, corrupt government, with the world’s 10th biggest oil reserves, yet 60 per cent of people living on less than $1 a day.

‘Brexit asked why Britain should remain in a system that does not fit it,’ says Emma Nmezu, a Radio Biafra DJ and supporter of Kanu’s movement Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). ‘Kanu says it is the same with us and Nigeria.’

Until recently, Kanu was politely ignored by the outside world. To many Igbos, he was at best an expat dreamer. Then, after years in which nobody took him seriously, the Nigerian government did just that. During a visit to Nigeria 15 months ago, he was arrested by its feared Department of State Security at a hotel in Lagos.

Ever since, he has languished behind the peeling walls of Kuje Prison, where he is now awaiting trial for ‘treasonable felony’, punishable with life imprisonment. One plank of the case against Kanu, 47, is a recorded speech to the 2015 World Igbo Congress in Los Angeles, in which he allegedly gave a call to (Igbos) to carry arms (to protect themselves from the terror group, Boko Haram).

‘We need guns and we need bullets,’ he declared. ‘We now know that the best way to defend yourself is to be armed, because [Islamist terror group] Boko Haram is everywhere.’ A call Kanu’s lawyers justified by stating that it was just overexcited rhetoric, and that no shiploads of weapons ever crossed the Atlantic. But justified or not, his arrest has turned him from a loudmouth expat into a political prisoner (a leader, one can be re-assured).

In his supporters’ eyes, he is now Peckham’s own Nelson Mandela. Since his arrest, there have been pro-Biafran demonstrations in nearly every country with an Igbo presence, and bigger ones in the Igbo homelands of south-east Nigeria. In the city of Onitsha – the scene of heavy fighting during the war – crowds of 20,000 turned out, holding placards of the saviour from south London alongside the Biafran flag, a red, black and green tricolour emblazoned with a rising yellow sun.

And the blood has been flowing once again. Since the autumn of 2015, at least 150 IPOB Members have died in clashes with security forces at pro-Biafran rallies, according to a report in November by Amnesty International, which accused the Nigeria government of heavy-handed policing and ‘extrajudicial executions’. Hundreds more have been injured and arrested.

Further violence is a near-certainty if Kanu is convicted, a prospect security forces can ill afford while their hands are full with the fight against Boko Haram. Yet the furore over Kanu’s arrest has gone all but unnoticed in Britain, where the 200,000-strong Nigerian community is generally much seen but little heard. In areas like Peckham, though, Nigerians now vie with hipsters for dominance.

Continue reading here:http://igbobia.com/?q=the-nigeria-nnamdi-kanu-case-british-columnist-colin-freeman-writes.html

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Re: The Nigeria- Nnamdi Kanu Case: British Columnist, Colin Freeman Writes by pirees: 8:02pm On Mar 08, 2017
undecided make them free kanu jare

1 Like

Re: The Nigeria- Nnamdi Kanu Case: British Columnist, Colin Freeman Writes by thuggCheetah(m): 8:06pm On Mar 08, 2017
Ok
Re: The Nigeria- Nnamdi Kanu Case: British Columnist, Colin Freeman Writes by ipobarecriminals: 8:12pm On Mar 08, 2017
sad kiss undecided sad KANU is our Mandela The Onikuje of KUJE prison,sorry I mean land(thanks to Sarrki,who installed him as the paramount ruler of KUJE prison ) is looking for a world record breaker of 30 yrs in prison. So be it

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Re: The Nigeria- Nnamdi Kanu Case: British Columnist, Colin Freeman Writes by Emycord: 8:15pm On Mar 08, 2017
Get ready biafrans to fight for your freedom! Freedom is coming tomorrow

4 Likes

Re: The Nigeria- Nnamdi Kanu Case: British Columnist, Colin Freeman Writes by timecapsule: 8:18pm On Mar 08, 2017
BIAFRA must be free. (THE RISING SUN)

5 Likes

Re: The Nigeria- Nnamdi Kanu Case: British Columnist, Colin Freeman Writes by TheFreeOne: 8:20pm On Mar 08, 2017
‘We need guns and we need bullets,’ he declared. ‘We now know that the best way to defend yourself is to be armed, because [Islamist terror group] Boko Haram is everywhere.’

Why the treasonable felony charge if he called for defence against BH terrorists.

I can see Nnamdi kanu gaining his freedom eventually.

7 Likes

Re: The Nigeria- Nnamdi Kanu Case: British Columnist, Colin Freeman Writes by Adiola(f): 8:25pm On Mar 08, 2017
ipobarecriminals:
sad kiss undecided sad KANU is our Mandela The Onikuje of KUJE prison,sorry I mean land(thanks to Sarrki,who installed him as the paramount ruler of KUJE prison ) is looking for a world record breaker of 30 yrs in prison. So be it
brother we need this strength in osun right now abokis are about to annihilate us and we are becoming endangered species

6 Likes

Re: The Nigeria- Nnamdi Kanu Case: British Columnist, Colin Freeman Writes by ipobarecriminals: 8:36pm On Mar 08, 2017
angry sad embarassed angry
Adiola:
brother we need this strength in osun right now abokis are about to annihilate us and we are becoming endangered species
we are Are onakakanfo, them nor born them well.Make I enter my power house comot .*Chant incantation* Intoxicated with power,oya Adiola,lead the way

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Re: The Nigeria- Nnamdi Kanu Case: British Columnist, Colin Freeman Writes by JideAmuGiaka: 8:49pm On Mar 08, 2017
ipobarecriminals:
sad kiss undecided sad KANU is our Mandela The Onikuje of KUJE prison,sorry I mean land(thanks to Sarrki,who installed him as the paramount ruler of KUJE prison ) is looking for a world record breaker of 30 yrs in prison. So be it and Buhari Mr jailer will die gradually in London hospital



We don hear

2 Likes

Re: The Nigeria- Nnamdi Kanu Case: British Columnist, Colin Freeman Writes by cheruv: 10:23pm On Mar 08, 2017
grin[code][/code]

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