Nnamdi Kanu: Prolonged Detention and Its Unintended Consequences for a Prisoner of Conscience

 

1. Nnamdi Kanu: Prolonged Detention and Its Unintended Consequences for a Prisoner of Conscience
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   by Dr. Anago

Assuming I am the President of Nigeria, three things I would have announced in my inauguration speech would be “Subsidy is gone, “Lecturers Pay Rise by 100%,” and the third one, “Nnamdi Kanu is Free.”

The reasons for the first and second announcements are clear; the subsidy was a drain on our resources, and we all agreed that it should be eliminated. Our bone of contention is gradual or once. The second one is because lecturers in this country need an urgent pay rise to sustain the quality of education in this country, as an educated nation is a prosperous nation. And for the third, it goes without saying that he is entitled to freedom, especially given the government’s reluctance to prosecute him through the court case. He has paid his dues in detention.

However, Immediately President Tinubu failed to do that and still failed to do that to date, his government actions, not Buhari anymore, inadvertently elevate the figure they seek to suppress. Frankly, The continuous confinement and prolonged incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is a testament to the government’s uncanny ability to transform a prisoner into a martyr.

Indeed, making Behind Bars the abode of Nnamdi Kanu for this long has unwittingly amplified his influence, as each day spent in detention improves his symbol of resistance, corroborating the Streisand effect, where attempts to suppress a person or information only serve to amplify them more. Music with the biggest hits and movies that are often the most watched are the ones banned. No wonder, porn videos still remain the most watched videos even when no one admits to ever watching one. In trying to silence Mr. Kanu, the government purchased a live megaphone for him.

A Slap in the Face of the Ndi Igbo
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Whether you dislike Nnamdi Kanu or agree with his agitation, his ongoing detention is an insult. I, as an Igbo man, would prefer that government hasten his trials and judgement be delivered so that if he is found innocent, he would be freed to rejoin his family in London. And if he is guilty, he serves his time and comes out. His continuous incarceration does not augur well with me. Well, I am a nobody, and so my views do not matter.

However, what about those that matter in Igboland? Many have implored the previous government and the current one to free him. But the deafening silence in response to all highly respected and prominent leaders of Ndi Igbo is not just dismissive but an affront to the Igbo people. If an Igbo man, who had been patriotic, contributing to critical sectors of the nation, instrumental to significant revenue growth through taxes and playing a pivotal role in maintaining law and order implore the government to do them a Favour by releasing Kanu, and the government ignored such plea, how do you continue looking at that government in good stead?

Beyond the plea of big fishes in Igboland, Ndigbo has supported this current administration, and I can make bold to say that Ndigbo are the major region that is holding the administration of President Bola Tinubu even when they are not rewarded with appointments or key infrastructure developments. Ndigbo’s tacit support of this administration, demonstrated by their restraint from participating in protests against the government, underscores their unspoken commitment to Tinubu’s administration and, in extension, national unity. However, their pleas for Kanu’s release are met with indifference, a gesture that amplifies the administration’s disregard for them.

The Irony of Human Rights Advocacy
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This argument can also be driven from the human rights advocacy angle, and it shows the government is performing poorly, especially when they pride themselves on being one that upholds democratic values and human rights. Or should I say the ideals of human rights are only preached to international communities and not to be implemented locally? That then amounts to a selective application of justice, which not only undermines the national credibility of the nation but also fuels the very dissent Nnamdi Kanu is accused of, which the government is trying to quell.

All citizens should be concerned about this, as our government’s actions in this case convey a conflicting message of strength and control, while also demonstrating insecurity and obstinacy by refusing to engage in dialogue or follow the advice of respected leaders regarding human rights violations.

A Call for Reflection
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I believe the time for the government to reassess its stance was under Buhari. Let’s leave that in the annals of history. If President Tinubu considers his legacy as a democrat, releasing Nnamdi Kanu would never be an act of capitulation but a demonstration of wisdom and respect for the rule of law as a true democrat. It will reinforce what many of his close friends say about his commitment to nation building, justice and human rights, and the Igbo community would see him as someone who is truly concerned about their concerns. However, sustaining the ill thought of the last administration would only serve to deepen divisions and sustain a cycle of resistance and repression.

I conclude by submitting that the line between strategy and folly is thin in the governance. Nnamdi Kanu’s lengthy detention has continued to transform him from a mere agitator to a symbol of resistance, which one day may go overboard; it would then be a twist of fate that could have been avoided by a dose of humility and adherence to the principles of justice by the government.

Dr. Anago is a nation builder in his little capacity. He is affiliated with the University of Nigeria.