The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) says the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has a right to fair trial. MOSOP also said Nnamdi Kanu’s prolonged trial and detention could amount to a violation of his fundamental rights and international law.
President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke who made this known over the weekend in a reaction to the recent calls on President Tinubu for the release of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu said the public will want to see that the trial of the IPOB leader is free and fair. Nsuke however declined to expressly call for Nnamdi Kanu’s release. He instead called for a fair and speedy trial of the detained IPOB leader.
“If there is one thing we must demand from the Nigerian Government in respect of Nnamdi Kanu, it is that he should get a fair trial. If there is nothing they can hold against him, he should be let go”, Nsuke siad.
On the insecurity situation in the country’s south-eastern region, Nsuke expressed doubts that Nnamdi Kanu’s release will douse the tensions. He said the Biafran agitation which Nnamdi Kanu pushes very strongly is a philosophy which does not rest with how the government treats Nnamdi Kanu. Nnamdi Kanu’s treatment will not determine how the Ibos respond to the demand for a state of Biafra.
The MOSOP President buttressed his point by noting that it will be outrageous for the Ibo people to let down their agitation just for the release of the leader of the agitators.
“I do not see how the release of Nnamdi Kanu will address the struggle of the Ibo people for Biafra or address the philosophical orientation of Biafran supporters.”
“The Biafra issue had been with us for decades and Kanu’s detention or release cannot address that problem. One way to address the Biafran agitation is to dialogue with the Ibo people and convene a national dialogue for restructuring.”
“I also do not think the recent tweaks to the constitution triggered by certain interests is sufficient to address the Ogoni problem. In the view of MOSOP, restructuring Nigeria requires that all ethnic nationalities must be carried along and their rights to function within Nigerian as Nigerians should be recognised and protected under the new structure. That is not what we will do by piecemeal amendments to the constitution” Nsuke said.
