By Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu, Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia and Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

As concerns grow over the ongoing move by the federal authorities to re-arrest leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, groups across the geopolitical zones have described it as a“costly mistake” and warned of dire consequences.

In a statement issued at the weekend by the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) and Igbo Leaders of Thought said the federal government which has been floundering with one political mistake after the other should restrain itself from plunging the nation into more crises by angling to re-arrest the IPOB leader.

The ECA which is a coalition of several civil society groups noted in the statement signed by its secretary, Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, who also doubles as Deputy Secretary of Igbo Leaders of Thought, said the government at the centre has continued to portray itself as “a parochial and ethnic-driven government” in its actions and policies hence the bias in handling case of IPOB and its leader.

“Any attempt to re-arrest Kanu, especially without arresting the quit notice givers, genocidal song writers and herdsmen-murderers will spell doom for Nigeria. May the world never say nobody told them. Those plotting the re-arrest of Kanu do not know how deeply divided Nigeria is at the moment. It will be a miracle if Nigeria survives this re-arrest agenda.”

“The agenda to re-arrest Kanu, agreed by the political class, sponsored by those fiercely opposed to the restructuring of Nigeria and endorsed by those who hate our people with passion, will permanently alter the Nigeria political firmament. This is probably ordained by God,” the statement said.

The group recalled that “for close to two years, the world has been regaled by series of childish mistakes by the Nigeria government, as regards to the manner the federal government has handled agitation for self-determination.”

It therefore noted: “The decision to re-arrest the most popular easterner alive today in the belief that nothing will happen, is a very costly mistake (and) there will be consequences, from which Nigeria might never recover.

“Arresting him in October 2015 was a big mistake. Denying him bail was another mistake. Executing his followers in cold blood in Aba, Onitsha, Asaba and Nkpor, a much bigger mistake. And now, re-arresting a man who commands the fanatical following of millions of angry young men will definitely spur grave surprises for us all, head or tail. Nigeria will never be the same after Kanu’s re-arrest.”

Meanwhile, groups in the Niger Delta and Middle Belt have equally voiced their opposition to the move by the federal government to re-arrest the Biafran leader, saying the entire nation would bear the consequences of such action.

Speaking from the Niger Delta, the leader of the Afra Descendants Movement (a pan- Ijaw ethnic organisation), Jene Kalada, said any attempt to re- arrest Kanu would only exacerbate the already bad political situation in Nigeria.

Kalada who voiced the concerns of Niger groups on phone, said the federal government should know that the Niger Delta people “fully support the Biafra agitation adding that the ongoing move to re- arrest Kanu was ‘a step in the wrong direction because it negates the spirit of unity the government claims it wants to achieve.’”

He argued that re-arresting Kanu would bring no solution to the rising ethnic tensions in the country but rather it would “postpone or even bring nearer the doom’s day,” adding that the demand for self- determination did not amount to treason.

From the Middle Belt, an activist, Dr. John Danfulani, said the consequences of re-arresting Kanu should not be taken lightly as it would definitely spell doom for the nation.

He pointed out that there was no doubt that Kanu had so far conducted his activities peacefully and had done nothing to be labelled a threat to national security “when in fact obvious threats to national security are ignored and allowed to fester.

Danfulai, who is from Southern Kaduna, warned: “I don’t see the security agents ready and capable of containing the fall out together with the Boko Haram insurgence in the North-east. So, the best is to avoid any action capable of unleashing anarchy in the land.”

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide, the umbrella body of all youths from Ijaw land, yesterday alleged that the federal government was institutionalising double standards in the running of the nation’s affairs.

President of the group, Mr. Eric Omare, in a statement in Yenagoa, national headquarters of the IYC, specifically noted that the planned re-arrest of Kanu was not only unfair but smacks of double standards.

He argued that the federal government partiality had even become more obvious given that the Arewa youth leaders that threatened to evict Igbo people from the North were neither arrested nor firmly reprimanded.

According to the group, many Niger Delta agitators are also languishing in various jails in the country, while the Arewa youths are being feted by state governments in the North.

Also, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has said any attempt by the federal government to re-arrest Kanu will be resisted by the people of the South-east zone.

The group described media reports credited to Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in which he requested the Federal High Court to revoke the bail given to IPOB leader as the “height of insensitivity’ and unwarranted ‘intimidation.”

The group in a statement by its leader, Uchenna Madu and made available to journalists in Enugu yesterday, said Kanu’s non-violent activities towards Biafra actualisation and restoration have never breached, truncated or confronted the “fragile and inconsistent constitution of this federation called Nigeria.”

He said the minister’s request was born out of “mischief and ignorance,” stressing that the federal government was indirectly trying to overheat the polity. “Even the Interior Minister, Abdurahman Dambazzu, a Fulani man defended his Hausa Fulani youths of Arewa that threatened the people of Biafra with an ultimatum of quit notice to vacate Arewa land before October 1, 2017 that the coalition of the Arewa youths were misquoted by the media,” he noted.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/08/28/seast-niger-delta-middle-belt-groups-warn-against-move-to-re-arrest-kanu/

Buhari is a useless goat.

Indeed, Kanu is a blessed fruit to Igbos. I envy them.

Left for me, I would like him to be re arrested because his arrest would definitely fast track disintegration of this failed stagnant contraption called Nigeria. Everybody must answer his papa name.

Every organization is condemning the FG while some YAMS are praising them

Anyone advising government to arrest Kanu is doing a great disservice. Especially with the Arewa Youths walking free

Hmm

These are people l believe when they talk. Not Afonja

Re-arrest Nnamdi Kanu you'll give him more followers both home and abroad...

Groups that came out to disagree with FG over KANU rearrest - Ohanaeze,Ijaw Youth Council,Afenifere etc

This shows that these groups are secretly happy with what KANU is doing. Tho they have never given him open support

Biafra is coming

The zoo must fall


Biafra or death



Oh goodness me (In Nnamdi Kanu voice 2014) nobody will give the zoo media any kobo to start talking about biafra

What is happening right now

Biafra is spirit

It seems the south is united for once!


I love the spirit!

Where are the e-diot sarrki, yyeske and MXrap?

Do you think these regions are not secretly happy with what kanu is doing to FG?

All the nairalanders calling for kanu's arrest should go and sniff Ebola.

nic2wao:
It seems the south is united for once!


I love the spirit!

I will be the happiest person if the South can unite.

once they unite, the Middle Belt will join forces and Fulani herdsmen will leave our lands.

We want out lands and our peace back.

KANU, ride on...

Some hate you but some love you.

nic2wao:
It seems the south is united for once!


I love the spirit!

fFear afonja, they are not part of South.

mpianya39:
The zoo must fall


Biafra or death



Oh goodness me (In Nnamdi Kanu voice 2014) nobody will give the zoo media any kobo to start talking about biafra

What is happening right now

Biafra is spirit

That guy is Togolis we Biafra in Togo is proud of him for his good work toward of Biafra

some useless fools were warnjng biafra to stay clear of their genuine agitation on account of instigating another war, but these fools thinks the war will be the same as the one of 1967 where the whole country ganged up against the igbo.

to their disappointment, we in the middle belt, the south south and the south east together with our yoruba brothers are together. in the case of any war, almajiRi go hear am