Recently in the news for good reason was the story that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) through its spokesman, Emma Powerful was thankful and laudable of some prominent people, who have publicly and sincerely demanded for the unconditional release of the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
These persons commended included Anambra Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Enugu Governor, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, popular actor, Kanayo. O. Kanayo, fiery and outspoken Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka.
Among them, Powerful was specifically, overwhelmingly and enthusiastically grateful and elated with Governor Mbah's recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja, to demand for Kanu's unconditional release as a path to national healing and unity. Emma Powerful said: "Mba’s recent visit to President Bola Tinubu asking for Kanu’s unconditional release was commendable, appreciated and noted by IPOB family globally."
As plausible, veracious and welcoming as Emma Powerful's statement and commendation of Governor Mbah and others are, it is time Powerful and his members at home and in the Diaspora went beyond such rhetoric and commitedly join hands with Governor Mbah and others in their passion and quest to completely and permanently put an end to the aberration and menace called Monday sit-at-home in Enugu and other states in the Southeast region.
This could be possibly achieved if the IPOB factions of Emma Powerful, Chika Edoziem and Simon Ekpa, can come together to form a common front and constructively engage the Governors and sincere political leaders from the Southeast region in finding a political path to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's unconditional release.
There is need for the IPOB factions, especially that of Powerful that seems to be more on ground in the Southeast region to show commitment by consistently and publicly sensitising people and campaigning against the destructive effects of sit-at-home and assure people, who want to go about their normal businesses of their safety on Mondays in their states.
This they can openly demonstrate by engaging in public enlightenment campaign and sensitisation about the destructive socio economic effects of the Monday sit-at-home in different places and media across the states in the Southeast region and beyond. This will complement the concerted efforts and sustain the gains made so far by the Governors especially Mbah in stopping the Monday sit-at-home in Enugu State.
To ruminate or ponder over by the IPOB leaders, members and their sympathisers was the unguarded and unwarranted statement/outbursts made by ex-Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, who after his recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, asked the President not to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. One may wonder of what interest or gain is the continued incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to Asari Dokubo? This calls for sober reflection and deep introspection by all Igbos, IPOB apologists, leaders and members in the Southeast region and beyond. Let no one be dismissive of Dokubo's outburst. He spoke the minds of some people as well.
If a man, who committed economic sabotage, arrested and incarcerated for years without his people or region protesting or embarking on sit-at-home, but was later released through political bargain could speak like this about Mazi Kanu, he is invariably telling IPOB leaders, members and apologists and by extension the entire Southeasterners that they are not sensible, political, diplomatic and strategic by continuing to sit at home on Mondays at their own detriments because of Mazi Kanu's incarceration.
Just like I have said in my previous write-ups, the people of the Southwest region or Yorubas didn't embark on sit-at-home to secure the unconditional release of then leader of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) now late Dr. Frederick Fasheun. The people of Southeast region and Igbos didn't embark on sit-at-home to secure the release of the leader of Movement for the Survival and Actualisation of the Sovereign State Of Biafra (MASSOB) Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.
The loudmouthed and loquacious, ex-Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, who recently taunted Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and urged for his continous detention secured his unconditional release after a long incarceration by Federal Government over economic sabotage through political approach.
Nothing stops the IPOB leaders and members from collaborating with the Southeast Governors and leaders to engage the Federal Government for political approach to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's unconditional release. Having observed Monday sit-at-home for almost two years now with colossal economic, time, material and human losses running into billions of Naira in the Southeast region, it is undoubtedly clear that continued Monday sit-at-home home in the Southeast cannot guarantee Mazi Kanu's unconditional release.
IPOB leaders, members and apologists have the moral burden of openly making move and supporting Governor Mbah in his unrelenting efforts at ending Monday sit-at-home at home in reciprocation to his determined move and that of other well-meaning Igbo leaders in securing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's unconditional release.
