Nnamdi Kanu’s Detention Is Not A Victory – It’s Incubation If Not Used Well
By Invite: Daily Tab24.
Since the apprehension and detention of Nnamdi Kanu, his group’s activeness seems to have watered down. But in his absence, another ugly head is trying to rear out. Irrespective of how we handle Nnamdi Kanu’s matter, the agitation for Biafra will live on simply because it’s an ideology. The earlier we intimate ourselves the truth, the better for us.
Biafra is an ideology and when dealing with an ideology, it takes accommodating and taming to get the best possible result. No ideology has ever been conquered by detention, apprehension, gun or any form of force aimed against it. Ideology can only be accommodated and managed to serve the best interest of everyone.
Nnamdi Kanu is in detention while Biafra agitation is minimally going on. It’s only a matter of time before it reaches the previous height if we fail to use our leverage. So, now it appears to be contained, we can use the opportunity to permanently address the agitation. My submission is borne out of patriotism for our country Nigeria.
When Chief Ralph Uwazurike was released from detention, the government of the day was able to de-radicalize him and his followers. The effort was a product of peace agreement, giving Uwazurike the opportunity to go about his agitation in a non-violent and moderate way that could not cause distress or constitute any form of illegality. It worked well until Nnamdi Kanu sold false narrative that profited his organization’s introduction to limelight.
Nnamdi Kanu in detention won’t permanetly serve us or address the agitation. It can only temporary wither the agitation and with time, would rise again and threatens our peace. Now circumstance presents the opportunity for a round-table discussion, the Federal Government should not take this time for granted.
Let’s sit down with Nnamdi Kanu who now appears willing to listen and speak heart to heart about our differences. Let’s seize this opportunity and negotiate from a position of strength. He would not be permanently detained; and his continued detention will likely fortify the sentiments that had propelled the agitation for so long if not handled well.
Another practical example was how Sunday Igboho’s case was handled. The Federal Government should use same strategy to follow Nnamdi Kanu to achieve lasting peace. There should not be the agenda of terminating the agitation through detention, it won’t work, instead, the agitation should be channeled in a way it would not put citizens of Nigeria at risk – a lawful agitation.
This time is the right time of introspection. It’s a time of re-strategizing and coming up with even solution. When Nnamdi Kanu was yet to be apprehended, he was threatening fire and brim stone. He was called for negotiation and pleaded to, but he felt it was his time and world alone. Little did he know circumstance could change; and when it did change, regret finds its feet.
Vice-versa, the Federal Government has an upper hand in the equation now. The Federal Government should not feel it’s their time. They should not feel it’s their world alone, because circumstance can change tomorrow. Now they are in control of proceedings, they should reach a compromise and build on it for a better Nigeria.
Nobody should forget Nnamdi Kanu’s detention in a hurry or think the matter has been addressed by virtue of his detention. Detained Nnamdi Kanu is only incubating the agitation if the Federal Government fails to use the detention to achieve success – in the way they want the agitation to go.
