Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, elderstatesman and Second Republic presidential liaison officer to former President Shehu Shagari in this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, speaks on the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), debate on a new constitution for the country and other issues. Excerpts:

Several groups have been calling for the speedy trial of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu while others are also asking that he should be given a fair trial and he shouldn’t be denied access to his lawyers. What is your reaction to the issues surrounding his arrest?

I am not the Attorney-General of the Federation. That issue is left for the Attorney-General to decide but we should realise that you don’t jump bail in any country of the world and expect that nothing will happen to you. When you jump bail, they will arrest you. Bail is very sacrosanct and so, you don’t jump it. If you jump bail, they will look for you for 10, 20, 30 years until they get you. They will distribute your name, pictures, blood group across other countries through their embassies and so on. It is not only Nigerian security agencies that will arrest you. If you are in Germany, the German police can arrest you if your name was sent to them that you jumped bail in your country and you fled to Germany. The same applies to other countries the person who jumped bail may flee to.

There is what they call INTERPOL, Internal Police Organisation. They liaise with one another all over the world. If they are looking for somebody, all they need to do is to inform the headquarters of Interpol with all the person’s particulars such as pictures, birth certificates and so on. They will then distribute it to all the embassies. The embassies will send to INTERPOL which has offices in all countries and their staff. When they get this information, they will begin to investigate. Once you put up in a hotel, you have to register your details with the hotel. The information you fill will then be sent to those who are already looking for you. So, it is not just about Nigeria, it is for all the nations in the world. INTERPOL is just like United Nation , they are a creation of the United Nation. So, when a nation is going to be a member of the United Nation, such a nation will sign an agreement that it will abide by their rules and regulations.

What about the excuse Nnamdi Kanu gave that he never wanted to jump bail but had to flee to avoid being killed when security agencies invaded his house in the village?

That is for the court to decide, it is not for you and me to decide. It is the court that will say whether the reasons he gave for jumping bail is genuine or not. When the security agencies when to his village, he absconded. It was after he ran away and they couldn’t get him that they continued to look for him until his arrest now. Before the bail was granted, there is an undertaking which he signed that whenever the court wants him to appear, he will do so. But now when the time comes, he did not do so. So, they began to look for him everywhere. But right now, it is for the court to decide on the matter especially on the excuse he gave for jumping bail.

Some Nigerians have been calling for the adoption of the 1963 Constitution. Are you in support of this idea?

Certainly, we cannot go back to 1963, but I would prefer a modified version of the system which we operated in 1963. The present six geo-political zones should be constituted and designated as regions. The current 36 states should be retained as the third tier of government. The local governments should be abolished and their responsibilities should be transferred to their states and arrangements should be made to fund the regional structure with the local government funds and the balance should be retained by their respective states. I would prefer a president who would be elected through the Electoral College of legislators and a prime minister. Where the president comes from the North, the prime minister should come from the South. Similarly, when the president comes from the South, the prime minister should be from the North. If you recall, the British colonial masters governed the North and South separately for some years before the amalgamation of 1914 that gave birth to Nigeria. This would take cognizance of the distinct identities and peculiarities of the North and South. The point I am making is, even though we currently have 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), we still see ourselves as North and South. This arrangement will give each side a sense of belonging

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https://independent.ng/only-the-court-can-decide-nnamdi-kanus-fate-yakassai/

Kanu's case will be decided by the Nigeria court and not the sensational rambling of the Ipob or the illusion of UK interference.

However, the matter of his case is simple and the outcome is predictable. Evidences abound to nail kanu, ranging from flouting his bail conditions, videos/audio evidence of terror incitement,confessional statement and other correspondence.

His case is a matter of the law and not of emotions.

End Nigeria. Let us contest for superiority whichever powerful tribe or religion that wins should rule over the rest. We're in the jungle. The UN and UK should free us and let us deal with our difference in natural ways.

Malu lamidi cownu. Insults the Fulani because the system is protecting him with freedom of speech nonsense. If it's in the 1800 we would have sort this within one week.

your moniker killMaziNnamdiKanunow . are you serious about it

KillMNKnow:
So

Nnamdi Kanu should always be the topic of discussion every time in the mouth of our northern brothers because this Nnamdi Kanu is worst than Bokoharam, iswap, bandits and herdsmen that is ravaging the north.


How dare MNK trying to disintegrate our northern brothers almajiris from the south, do he want them to eat grass and die? Imagine now that southern oil money is flying to the north, but most of them are still living in abject poverty, eating grass for survival, imagine when the country finally break, what will be of our northern brothers fate? They will eventually start eating stones like pigs.

This MNK dont deserve a fair hearing at all, only Boko Haram, Bandits, and herdsmen Should be given a fair hearing, they deserve to be paid in millions, fly around the world in private Jets. Thanks to our darling daddy, he has been doing this to our beloved bandits through Gumi and bokoharam but for MNK he should be hang immediately.

No
It is you and your northern brothers...northerners are being killed on daily basis but none of you is taking it seriously! It's kanu that is your headache

Ok oh

buhari's body language has decided his fate

Damnnn niggar
Isoright

Una don start Kanu matter this morning

See this idiotic lifeless old bastard spewing rubbish. Is it not one of his kunu sipping brain dead brothers that's gonna be the judge

joker's

Nigeria is in a big mess for kidnapping and abducting MNK. Both Nigeria and Kenya violated international law and will pay dearly for it. MNK did not jump bail. He was getting ready to show up for trial when the armies came to his how to kill him. They also killed about 28 people in his father's palace.

MNK has not committed any crime. He is asking for Biafra through a referendum. Whatever he said on his podcast /YouTube is freedom of speech.

But Buhari think that he and his presidency are bigger than the law. They must bring their proofs. Same proofs they couldn't proof in 2017 .

Funny enough the world knows Nigerian terrorists, but not Ipob. Buhari is a terrorist and a kidnapper. He has a record for it.

Let these old smelly foolanis continue to chase MNK. By this time next year Northerners will not have a secure place to go. Their lands will be taken over by isis.

Believe it or not, the zoo will be burnt down by this foolish act of MNK's kidnap from Kenya. Malami and Buhari might go to jail. Certainly , Nigeria will be sanction. Fools in power

Chapter two script intro

What about bandits and bokoharam

Tanko should shut up his dirty mouth, we already know dia plans... Bastards.

When they start clamping down on killer herdsmen, then, we can listen to them

No one is talking about Emiliano Martinez Romero on Nairaland Nairaland is fvcked up
#Unapapa

And only the UK parliament wound decide your haunted country's fate. Ewu hausa

OK. It is well

Who is controlling the court??

ABokis

W

Kanu is a Gooner. Never going to see freedom again.

You are truly an elder statesman

Make them decide nau,abi wetin them dey wait for?

athaboi:
No
It is you and your northern brothers...northerners are being killed on daily basis but none of you is taking it seriously! It's kanu that is your headache

Did you even read??

We know that already Sir

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Budaatum

Please you people should explain to us which of the courts? Is it the sharia courts that buhari doesn't obey or respect; Elzaky comes to mind when he was granted bail cos of health but was still held under executive orders.

In Nigeria, our courts are some kind of annex to buhari toilet where he shits off all his dysentery waterÿ and slimy feaces.

Too much

As always, they will put all there energy as far as say is Kaanu, while other important matters bedeviling Nigeria is eating up the country ]