Before I proceed, I need to state that this post is purely for the purpose of introspection for Ndi Igbo. I am not ignorant of the fact that a vast number of Igbos see Nnamdi Kanu either as a freedom fighter or as a messenger of God. This belief, rightly or wrongly, does not make Kanu to be infallible, above mistakes and beyond the realm of scrutiny.
It is important in this perilous moment, we highlight Nnamdi’s mistakes to reduce the chances of these mistakes repeating itself in the course of our cultural evolution as Ndi Igbo.
1. Derailing From The Dream of The Founding Fathers: Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, the platform that shot Nnamdi Kanu into national spotlight was formed by Dr. Dozie Ikedife and three others. The original aim was a long term diplomatic rapprochement towards achieving an independent nation for Igbos. When these Igbo statesmen founded IPOB, they were not in anyway hoping that they will live to see this independent Igbo nation materialize. Hence, they started looking for young Igbos that will carry the diplomatic struggle. This was how Nnamdi Kanu and several others came into the picture. Unfortunately, events of today have shown that IPOB since the passing of Dr. Dozie Ikedife in 2018, the leadership of the movement being firmly in the hands of Nnamdi Kanu, the movement has moved very far away from it’s spirit to the extent of it being banned and declared a terrorist organization by the Federal Government of Nigeria. IPOB, under Kanu, totally abandoned wise counsel, diplomatic overtures, and embraced inflammatory rhetorics.
2. Inability to Turn IPOB Into a Political Movement: IPOB got to its peak of Igbo national acceptance around 2016-2018. This period, a lot of Igbo personalities advised Nnamdi that this is the time to turn the movement into a political party. This will give him a better leverage to dialogue with the Nigerian state. Nnamdi bluntly refused. He felt it will be a betrayal to the cause. He was advised that he cannot get a referendum unless he and his followers push it through in the National Assembly. He refused. Today, IPOB which is in it’s declining phase have not gotten a referendum. Rather, it has successfully succeeded in turning some parts of Ala Igbo into ghost towns.
3. Creating The Biafra or Nothing Mantra: Nnamdi succeeded in grafting into the minds of many impressionable Ndi Igbo that it is either Biafra or death. This means Biafra must materialize by any means necessary. Such posturing radicalizes people and forecloses alternatives. Ojukwu also insisted on Biafra or nothing, leaving no room for compromises. Yet, in the end, Ojukwu compromised. All stubborn freedom fighters will always realize that compromise is inevitable. Convincing Igbos into taking extremist position instead of favourable compromises in pursuit of Biafra is what has led a lot of agitators to unleash mayhem in Ala Igbo in the name of fighting for Biafra. After all, they have been instructed, it’s Biafra or nothing!
4. No Intellectual Document to Make a Case For Biafra: Ojukwu gave Ndi Igbo Ahiara Declaration. The essence was to document why they were fighting for Biafra and what they hope to achieve with Biafra. In Ahiara Declaration, a strong case was made why Eastern Nigeria was pushed into fighting the war. Nnamdi and his band of co-travellers have not been able to produce any document that will help both the past, present and future Ndi Igbo to actually understand what exactly they are fighting for right now. A revolutionary movement must highlight their grievances in a way it can be easy to be fact checked. Not making your case through rhetorics that can be conveniently denied by the leadership of the revolution when necessary. If in the heat of the war, Ojukwu was able to present the Ahiara Declaration to the Igbos, Nigeria and the world, then, Nnamdi has no excuse for not being able to provide a cast in the stone intellectual material detailing why he is involved in making Ala Igbo a hotbed for insecurity.
5. Allowing Criminals to Hijack The Movement: Nnamdi ran away from allowing politicians hijacking IPOB and ended up handing over the same movement to criminals who have now found IPOB as a good cover to steal, kidnap, mete out jungle justice and cause mayhem in Ala Igbo. Today every retired thief, still in active service thief, jailbird and mad Ahabs are now freedom fighters fighting to bring Biafra and rid Ala Igbo of Fulani herdsmen. This is what happens when you have no strategic arm that it’s job is to train and educate people who volunteer to join your cause. Joining IPOB has become an all comers affairs thats easily attractive to anyone who knows how to shoot a gun.
It is shameful that a movement which started with an intellectual and accomplished medical personnel as Dr. Dozie Ikedife is now in the hands of people like Simon Ekpa, Gentle Yahoo and other mentally deranged elements masquerading as freedom fighters. No thanks to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Credit ;Ezeikolomuo
Igbo Consciousness Teacher…
