Biafra agitation a spirit, beyond Nnamdi Kanu, Ekpa – Lawyer, Idam
An activist lawyer, Madubuachi Idam on Saturday said the agitation for Biafra is beyond Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and self-acclaimed Biafra Prime Minister, Simon Ekpa.
Idam said the agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra is a spirit that resonates in every Igbo man.
Idam said a lot of people from the Southeast were not comfortable with Kanu and Ekpa’s style of agitation.
Kanu has been locked up by the Department of State Services, DSS, since June 2021 when he was arrested in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria.
While in detention, insecurity in the South-east has escalated with gunmen on the prowl.
Commenting on the agitation, Idam said: “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 charged the Nigerian government to ensure an inclusive government.
He noted that Biafra agitation was due to marginalization of the Southeast.
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.
