Biafra: Aka Ikenga excoriates Buhari over Nnamdi Kanu's detention

Biafra: Aka Ikenga excoriates Buhari over Nnamdi Kanu's detention

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” – Martin Luther King

Thirty-Two years ago, a young, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, in a military coup overthrew a legitimate Nigerian civilian government. He superimposed himself as Head of State on January 2, 1984. The Nigerian Constitution classifies as treason any act with “intention to remove, during his term of office, otherwise than by constitutional means the President as Head of State of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.” Until date, Buhari has hardly faced any questions about his overthrow of a legitimate government.

Rather, than an apology for overthrowing a legitimate government, Buhari was emboldened to seek the office of the Nigerian Presidency four times. No one ever challenged these unlawful attempts. However, Nigerian history recorded the imprisonment of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for treasonable felony. Obasanjo, a former president, was incarcerated for alleged participation in an aborted coup. Both leaders are of Yoruba descent and have been questioned by the law for implication in the attempted overthrow of government. However, Buhari, of Fulani descent, has never been mentioned in the same breath, let alone being charged or jailed for overthrowing a legitimate government. Yet, he was left to run for and finally became President only now to turn around with his secret police to hold an innocent man, Nnamdi Kanu, in custody for no reason other than free speech!

Evidently, Buhari appears disrespectful to the Nigerian Constitution. Neither of these situations are redeeming to any Presidency of Nigeria. The Nigerian judiciary have looked at Nnamdi Kanu’s issue and acquitted him, but apparently, Buhari still figures he can hold any person hostage, if he does not like their face or their ethnicity. That is why Nnamdi Kanu is still being held in jail. This is how it is in Banana republics; usually their tin pot militarised dictators’ start with an authoritarian style. Remarkably, as Buhari ran for presidency, in a speech in London at Chatham House, he said, “I cannot change the past. Nevertheless, I can change the present and the future. So before you, is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic norms”.

Nnamdi Kanu unlawfully detained by Buhari

With that speech, Buhari showed recognition of democratic ideals but obviously, talk is cheap. One of the primary “rigours of democracy” is obedience to the laws, the constitution of a nation, which democratic presidents swore to uphold, even when that law does not favour them. Holding Nnamdi Kanu against his will because he said things about Biafra, which Buhari does not like, is akin to what happens in Banana republics.

Most importantly what Nnamdi Kanu said, not did, pales in the face of Buhari’s past activities against Nigeria. Overthrowing Shagari’s government was treasonable and that is a fact. Buhari found it convenient to challenge elections within the Nigerian judiciary even after overthrowing a legitimate one. It is also a fact that the courts have tried Mr. Kanu and found him not guilty, while Buhari is yet to be fingered for treason even with this faux conversion to democracy. Disrespect for the Constitution and disobeying the laws is not a requirement neither a qualification for conversion to democracy. Respect for the laws of Nigeria, as dispensed from the judiciary, is respect for the Constitution. It is beginning to appear that some Nigerians are above the law. If some Nigerians are indeed above the law, that also is corruption.

Corruption is not only financial; Muhammadu Buhari also outlined corruption on his radar screen. One cannot run with the hare and at hunt with the hounds or possibly the “baboons”, to borrow from the Buhari lexicography. No, wonder the expectation that some Nigerians saw coming, a miracle man of god! However, as we go to press, Nnamdi Kanu is still languishing in jail for no crime. That is an ungodly act. The future that Nnamdi talks about is Biafra, and is the same future that Buhari is deathly scared of. The injustices of Nigeria as is now perpetrated to Nnamdi Kanu and a whole lot of other Nigerians are the fuel driving Biafra; just holding Nnamdi in jail is not going to stop the cry.

Aka Ikenga at USA is demanding the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu immediately. Continuous restriction of his freedom with trumped up charges does not hold promise for the future. You can imprison a person but it is impossible to imprison ideas. Itis not a good idea to keep Mr. Kanu in jail; hopefully Buhari and his secret police understand that this is not going to be like the case of a dead Nigerian Justice Minister that remains unsolved.

General Buhari, there is only one choice and you and your secret police know what it is. Do the right thing.

- Chief Laur Nnamdi Onyekwere is President of Aka Ikenga at Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.