Jonathan Nwokpor
According to activist lawyer Madubuachi Idam, the movement for Biafra is not limited to Nnamdi Kanu, the head of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), or self-declared Biafra Prime Minister Simon Ekpa.
Every Igbo man, according to Idam, is resonant with the spirit of the agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra.
Idam noted in an interview with ZINGTIE that many Southeasterners were uncomfortable with the agitation approach of Kanu and Ekpa.
After being detained in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria in June 2021, Kanu was arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS.
While he was being held, gunmen became more prevalent in the Southeast, causing an increase in unrest.
Considering the commotion, Idam remarked, “The agitation for Biafra has always been beyond Kanu and Simon Ekpa.
“The agitation for the emancipation of Biafra has always been a spirit in every Igbo man.
“It does not resonate within Kanu and Ekpa alone, it’s a spirit that lives in every Igbo man. The example of this is that since they had Kanu in detention, has the agitation stopped? The answer is no.
“I can tell you that not every Biafran is comfortable with the style of these two persons. So many people, including myself have reservations for their styles, though we believe that the emancipation of the Biafran people is necessary through a peaceful approach.
“The agitation has always been beyond these two and I must tell you the agitation can’t die with them.”
The Abuja-based constitutional lawyer tasked the Nigerian government to guarantee inclusive governance.
He mentioned that the marginalisation of the Southeast was the cause of the Biafra struggle.
Idam said: “The Nigerian state must ensure an inclusive government because some of us agitation are clamouring for that.
“The Igbos are saying that they are marginalized. So, why will the state not look at their yearning, knowing that if it include these set of people the agitation will stop.”
“I must encourage the Nigerian state to toe the line of negotiation and stop heating the polity through the continued detention of Kanu.
“It must toe the line of mediation and negotiation to resolve this unwarranted trial of Kanu,” he added.
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