Exclusive Interview With Prince Emmanuel Kanu, Younger Brother To Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, The Leader Of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
During an edition of Political Perspective, host Ifeanyi Okali of ABN TV, engages in an in-depth conversation with Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The discussion explores critical issues surrounding IPOB’s activities, the implications of Operation Python Dance, and the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Prince Emmanuel Kanu provides valuable insights into the movement’s position, the political landscape, and the potential path forward.
Speaking on the 2017 military invasion of his family home in Afara Ukwu, Umuahia, Prince Kanu described the event as a harrowing experience that still haunts the family.
"The invasion remains a very painful memory, from 2017 up until today. On August 30, 2017, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu met with the Southeast Governors in Enugu State. He presented his demands, and they assured him that those demands would be taken to the President in Abuja. However, two weeks later, our home was invaded under Operation Python Dance, leading to the deaths of over 28 people, including some of our relatives. The trauma of that event contributed to the deaths of my parents."
He recalled how the invasion left the community in perpetual fear.
"I remember a little girl who lived opposite my parents' house. Each time she saw police officers or heard sirens, she would scream, 'They are coming again! They are coming again to kill us!' These are the painful memories that Operation Python Dance left us with."
February 14 has become a solemn day for the Kanu family and IPOB members worldwide.
"That was the day we laid our parents to rest, and ever since, every February 14, we honor them. It is painful that my brother is not here to be part of this, but we have no choice but to continue the tradition. People came from all over Biafra land to pay their respects. My parents did not die natural deaths; they died from the trauma inflicted by Operation Python Dance. Their spirits live on, and we will continue to honor them."
He said; Prince Kanu also addressed the ongoing legal battles surrounding his brother's detention. He recounted the courtroom drama that unfolded during Nnamdi Kanu's recent court appearance.
"Last week, he was brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Some claimed he was being dramatic, while others said he was simply educating the court on the law. The truth is, Justice Binta Nyako had previously recused herself from the case. So we were shocked when, on February 10, she was suddenly back in court, presiding over the case again. Why? What interest does she have in this case? It was clear that a grand conspiracy was at play."
He further alleged that the legal process was compromised from the start.
"In 2016, when Justice John Tsoho was presiding over my brother’s case, my brother accused him of bias, and he recused himself. He never returned to the case. So why is Justice Binta Nyako insisting on handling this case despite having recused herself? When my brother was illegally renditioned from Kenya to Nigeria, it was the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who directed that the case be assigned to her. It is a calculated plan to keep my brother in detention indefinitely."
He said; Prince Kanu criticized the Southeast Governors for their silence and inaction regarding his brother's prolonged detention.
"Since 2021, the Southeast Governors’ Forum has not made a single attempt to meet with the President concerning my brother’s release. Compare this to the case of Sunday Igboho. When he was detained in Benin Republic, Yoruba political elites rallied together and secured his release. Why have our governors done nothing for Nnamdi Kanu? Are they benefiting from the insecurity in Ala Igbo? If they truly wanted peace, they would have taken action."
He challenged the governors to take a stand.
"If Nnamdi Kanu is truly their son, they should go and see the President and demand his release. The President is not a fool. He would listen. But instead, they are more concerned about what happens after his release. This is unacceptable."
Speaking on the way forward, Prince Kanu emphasized that bullets and guns would not resolve the crisis.
"The only way forward is dialogue. A meaningful conversation on a roundtable is the only solution. The Nigerian government should listen to the demands that Nnamdi Kanu made years ago. He advocated for reviving industries, improving healthcare, dredging the River Niger, opening Enugu’s international airport to full capacity, and allowing seaports in the Southeast to function. None of these demands were violent. They were all for the economic and infrastructural development of the Southeast."
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