Nnamdi Kanu is my son! Buhari must release him or Nigeria will break - Ankio Briggs

Nnamdi Kanu is my son! Buhari must release him - Ankio Briggs

Ankio Briggs,the most prominent female activists from Ijaw part of Biafra has once again and bluntly told President Muhammadu Buhari that he cannot rightly arrest and incarcerate Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). She described as her child and as a matter of fact a son to her. She also threw her weight behind Niger Delta Avengers against what was reported by Nigerian media. She vividly warned that Nigeria will break if Nnamdi Kanu is not released and Nigeria restructured.

Nigerian Media is well known for deceit and premeditated misinterpretation of facts to suit the leprosy stricken contraption called Nigeria, has twisted what the fiery activist said. She spoke at the 17th Anniversary of Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, where she was honored with award of truth alongside Nnamdi Kanu. Family writers (covered the event) can confirm that Briggs was protective of her people and posited that Nigeria will break if it continues without being restructured.

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Speaking after she received her award “Buhari went to UN and propagated Palestine self-determination even when he is not a Palestinian and he was not arrested by anybody. Nnamdi Kanu that is a Nigerian then asked for that same thing and Buhari gave directive for his arrest and incarceration. He cannot rightly arrest our child and our son, he must release him” she fiercely said and she was loudly cheered by the audience and members of Igbo Youth Movement.

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Speaking on the activities of the Niger Delta militants, she defended the Biafran youths across the Niger and argued that they are not militants “People cannot continue being slaughtered in broad daylight on their farms and villages and nothing is done about it, nobody will be held responsible (Fulani herdsmen Buhari’s foot soldiers). How can you tell the Gbaramatu leader to provide Tompolo over a business the government had with him and if he fails, you will wipe out or destroy the entire community. Our youths are not militants, how can a man that has never breathed polluted air have oil blocs and our people have none and living in poverty. How can you take 87 percent of what is in my land and give me 13 percent without doing anything for me. What are you doing with that 87 percent? They are not militants, hence Fulani herdsmen killing Nigerians are not Nigerians but from Libya, militants destroying oil installations are not from Ijaw but from Somalia” she fumed, mocking the inactiveness of the government. 

Ms. Annkio Briggs (activist) with Chima and Ifeanyi Chijioke of Family Writers

Recall that Niger Delta Avengers made demands, prioritizing the release of Nnamdi Kanu, and Briggs has pointed that same way. It is still hard for Buhari to decipher that he is fastening the destruction of Nigeria by continued incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu. Speaking on the general state of Nigeria, Briggs refused to be economical with truth. “If we don’t agree to live together then we must find a way to live separately, we must restructure, release Nnamdi Kanu and we will talk”. She lambasted the government of Buhari who has done nothing but kept blaming ex-president Jonathan for his failure “Let him stop calling one man’s name, let him do the work he was voted to do. He made thousands of promises just for us to vote him but he has not fulfilled even one, we need the right change because this change is not true” she posited. 

Speaking on the agitation in Biafra (South-South and South-East)“The cost of living together must not be paid by Nnamdi Kanu alone, self- determination is not secession. We cannot continue to live in a Nigeria somebody is beheaded for blasphemy, where Pastors have to get license before they preach and practice their faith. I believe we can live in peace separately. Nigeria is not a country, what is happening in Nigeria does not make it a country”

When asked if Nnamdi Kanu is likely fighting for true federalism, she said “Nnamdi Kanu is asking for a different country for Indigenous People of Biafra and it is a status recognized by United Nation. Nnamdi Kanu is within his right, he is not a criminal. The court cannot rightly criminalized Nnamdi Kanu because he asked for something. There is nothing that cannot be discussed on earth, I can tell you based on the legality of what Nnamdi Kanu is doing. So many charters backed him up, Nnamdi Kanu has every right for the request he is making. There must be solution to the request Nnamdi Kanu is making, whether the solution is based on getting his Biafra or for Nigeria to negotiate with him. Regional government is as good as having the country of our own” she concluded.

By Ifeanyi Chijioke and Chima Onyekachi

For Family Writers