Below is my response to a friend who sent to me a compilation of the purported hate speeches by Maazi Nnamdi Kanu. I suppose that compilation has been making rounds in social media. I, therefore, decided to post the response here so that people can also see the "other side of the coin."

Compilation of Nnamdi Kanu's Hate Speeches.

The above from you on purported Nnamdi Kanu's hate speeches refers. My response is as follows.
I condemn and I am against violence - be it verbal or physical. Even at homes, verbal violence from many women has led to very sad and tragic events in the lives of their husbands, though, most often, unreported.

I personally did not hear Nnamdi Kanu say those things ascribed to him and, I am not sure you did either. However, let us assume he did say them and more. Those statements were not made out of Love and, actually, they are full of hate and, so, condemnable.

However, have we asked, what could have led to a man making such hated-filled statements? Remember, nothing happens for nothing.

Secondly, when were those statements made - before or after he came into the country? From my own understanding, most of those statements were purportedly made by him before he entered this country - in the early stage of his agitation - and apparently, that was his own way to gain attention of the public to his course.

Those statements are, also, the basis for his arrest immediately he entered this country, his incarceration for nearly 2 years, and his current trial at federal high court for treasonable felony. Has the court found him guilty? Why not allow the court process to run its course?

Now, let us look at this issue from another perspective. Remember the story in the bible of two sons their father sent on an errand as narrated by Jesus Christ. While one promised to carry out the assignment from their father, the other one said he will not do it. However, it eventually happened that the one who promised to do it later mocked their father by deliberately not doing the assignment, while the one who initially refused happened to be the one who carried out same assignment. Of course, the glory and praise went to the second guy.

The moral of the above story is that, despite all the hate speeches attributed to Nnamdi Kanu, neither himself nor his IPOB group has harmed anyone nor destroyed anything in all their rallies and activities (more than 300 rallies, as reported) worldwide. He and the group are not armed with even a catapult, neither have they physically attacked anyone.

If you have instances of violence attributed to Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB, please, list them out same way you listed out those alleged hate speeches by him.

I will not go into other numerous and equally condemnable hate speeches by other Nigerians which abound, for which non of the authors of those speeches has been arrested not to talk of prosecution. Rather, let us match this undisputed reality of non-violence on the part of Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB group, despite the purported hate speeches, with another undisputed reality from those who never made any hate speech.

Consider these :

1) Nnamdi Kanu was twice granted unconditional bail by federal courts but denied release - remember that President Buhari swore then that over his dead body will he release him.

Hate Action.

2) Unarmed IPOB members, within a school compound in Aba, singing and praying, were shot to death by Nigeria security forces -army and police.

Hate Action.

3) IPOB members, gathered in a Church at Nkpo, Anambra state, were shot to death by Nigerian soldiers.

Hate Action.

4) People rejoicing on the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of USA at Port-Harcourt were shot at by Nigerian soldiers, some killed, many injured.

Hate Action.

5) Gideon Akaluka was not only taken from a Nigerian Police custody, he was killed and, in addition, beheaded and his head used to parade a Nigerian city on a spike. Not only was no one convicted for this, Sanusi, who was linked to this crime is today an Emir.

Hate Action.

6) A woman simply advised a youth not to do his ablution in front of her shop since he may be obstructing her shop from potential customers. She was accused of blasphemy by this youth and others, killed and, beheaded. The perpetrators of this crime were all set free because the state government withdrew the case from court.

Hate Action.

7) Another woman was preaching early in the morning. She was attacked and killed. Till today, no arrests, no prosecution. Her crime? Preaching christianity.

Hate Action.

Agatu massacre, Nimbo, Delta Monarch, Plateau, Taraba and, Southern Kaduna killings by marauding fulani herdsmen, stoutly owned up and defended by known MIYETI Allah officials, their umbrella organisation. No arrests, no prosecutions.

Hate Action.

9) Arewa youths not only asked Igbos to leave their region, a treasonous declaration, they repeatedly reaffirmed this openly and, unlike Nnamdi Kanu that is standing trial for his own statements, these so-called Arewa youths were not even invited to any police post, not police station, police division, police hq, or by dss, to explain why they should issue such treasonous declaration.

Hate Action.

10) Has anyone been arrested for the hate song against the Igbos circulating in the north?

Hate Action.

11) While IPOB members are being mowed down for asking for a referendum, el-rufai payed money to fulani herdsmen after one of the many southern kaduna senseless and heartless butcheries.

Hate Action.

12) Till today, no northerner has been arrested and charged for sponsoring boko haram. Remember that kabiru Sokoto was arrested in a northern state government guest house.

Hate "Inaction."

13) The top ranking police officer, who was dismissed from the force for aiding the escape of same kabiru Sokoto, was recalled, reinstated to his position, and quietly retired.

Hate Action.

14) The fundamental human rights of El-Zakzaky has been denied him till today. Remember, he is a human being like you and I.

Hate Action.

15) In keeping with his 97% and 5% policy on treatment of Nigerians, President Buhari's first top appointments totalling 48 had no Igbo person from the SE region.

Recall, also, that in a diverse and heterogeneous country like Nigeria where we still have Arewa Consultative Forum, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Ijaw People's Congress, and Oodua People's Congress, with each organisation looking and speaking out for and on behalf of their region, Igbos have no representation during National Security meetings.

Love Action?

16) The SE region is the only region with 5 states and the total number of Local Govts in the region probably equals that of Kano and Jigawa put together. Considering the "feeding bottle" system in Nigeria, does this not amount to
Hate Action?

17) The total capital budget for the entire SE region in this year's budget is about N27 billion, while NC has about N207 billion in same budget.

Love Action?

18) Are you aware that the gas pipeline that feed Lagos industries from oil and gas fields in neighbouring SS region totally excluded SE states and cities? Remember that SE, unarguably, has the highest number of Indigenous industries in Nigeria.

Hate Action.

19) Of course, I am sure that you are fully aware that the neighbouring seaports at Port-Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, and the inland port at Onitsha have been rendered comatose, while Lagos ports are the only ones working. In-fact, Badagry seaport is already being developed. This is despite the known fact that over 70% of businesses in the Lagos ports are done by SE and SS indigenes.

Hate Action.

20) Do I need to bring up the fact that despite the devastations wrecked on the SE region during the war, there has been no concrete steps towards rebuilding the bombed and destroyed infrastructures more than 47 years after cessation of open hostilities. Meanwhile, even with boko haram still very much active in NE, the NE development commission is already in place with several billions budgeted for their activities. SE development commission? Sorry, represent the bill next century. Another
Hate Action.

21) Do I need to bring up the case of the entrance examination cut-off marks, where Abia and Anambra states, despite the total disruption in the education of their children for 3 long years and the destruction of their schools during same period of war foisted on them, has higher cut off marks than even Lagos state, the most urbanised state in Nigeria and, other SW states despite their priding themselves as pace-setters in education in Nigeria?

Bringing this point home, it means that that Abia and Anambra child in the Community Primary School, built through the sweat of his / her parents, since Nigeria war planes bombed the one they had before, needs to do better than that Lagos child in the many upper class private schools that adorn Nigeria's economic power house in same examination to gain entrance into same school. Bros, think-am naa!
Is this not Hate Action?

Aaahhh! This is getting too long and I need to stop.

Fact remains that for each purported hate speech from Nnamdi Kanu, there are many hate actions committed and being committed in this country, especially, against Igbos and the SE region that cry to high heavens for justice. This is why Nnamdi Kanu is gaining grounds by the day.

Be very clear that I do not support Hate in any form - be it speech or action - no matter who is guilty of it. I am for LOVE among all mankind. #copied#

It is also important that we ask why such vitriol from Nnamdi Kanu and, why he is gaining so many followers in-spite of the reported hate speeches. Judging things from one prism does not give an overall view of the object or issue.

Let me conclude by saying that there can not be Peace and Love where there is No JUSTICE.

A Call For Referendum is NEVER A Call For War. If there is Justice And Equity in Nigeria, no one will pay any attention to the likes of Nnamdi Kanu.

You ought to have posted the article you are responding to or at lest a link to it.

Let me select the ones I can respond to, others will fill in the rest.

VivaDeAngelo:

14) The fundamental human rights of El-Zakzaky has been denied him till today. Remember, he is a human being like you and I.

And he is an Igbo man, or his modus operandi is IPOBic, I guess?

15) In keeping with his 97% and 5% policy on treatment of Nigerians, President Buhari's first top appointments totalling 48 had no Igbo person from the SE region.

Recall, also, that in a diverse and heterogeneous country like Nigeria where we still have Arewa Consultative Forum, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Ijaw People's Congress, and Oodua People's Congress, with each organisation looking and speaking out for and on behalf of their region, Igbos have no representation during National Security meetings.

And those organisations speak out for their regions at the National Security Council meetings, except Ohaneze Ndi Igbo?

16) The SE region is the only region with 5 states and the total number of Local Govts in the region probably equals that of Kano and Jigawa put together. Considering the "feeding bottle" system in Nigeria, does this not amount to

You mean the whole of SE is not up to the size of Kano and Gigawa states combined, yet is a region?

18) Are you aware that the gas pipeline that feed Lagos industries from oil and gas fields in neighbouring SS region totally excluded SE states and cities? Remember that SE, unarguably, has the highest number of Indigenous industries in Nigeria.

I thought it feeds the ones in Kano also?

19) Of course, I am sure that you are fully aware that the neighbouring seaports at Port-Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, and the inland port at Onitsha have been rendered comatose, while Lagos ports are the only ones working. In-fact, Badagry seaport is already being developed. This is despite the known fact that over 70% of businesses in the Lagos ports are done by SE and SS indigenes.

That is still part of PMB's 95% and 5% policy.

20) Do I need to bring up the fact that despite the devastations wrecked on the SE region during the war, there has been no concrete steps towards rebuilding the bombed and destroyed infrastructures more than 47 years after cessation of open hostilities. Meanwhile, even with boko haram still very much active in NE, the NE development commission is already in place with several billions budgeted for their activities. SE development commission? Sorry, represent the bill next century. Another

And it took you 47 years to realise you need a development commission to rebuild?
Or just taking a cue from NE?


Let me conclude by asking, peace, love and justice, which one comes first?