Nnamdi Kanu, Sunday Igboho: Political Solution Gathers Support

The disclosure by the Federal Government to consider all kinds of solutions, including political ones, towards resolving the crisis surrounding separatist agitations in Nigeria has continued to gather more support across the country.

Since the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), gave the indication in Abuja recently, many Nigerians have thrown their weight behind the noble idea.

Speaking to TRUE VISION, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, former President, Aka Ikenga and member of the Ohanaeze Legal Team to Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial, said that, he is in support of a political solution to this kind of disagreement.

Borrowing the words of the former British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, who said “that it is better to jaw jaw than to war”, Chief Uwazurike reasoned that, if talking can solve a problem, why go to blows.

Uwazurike stated that, he is aware that, not all people believe in peaceful settlements and that political solutions lead to peaceful co-existence.

He said “This does not mean know-towing. The advantage of political solutions over legal trial cannot be over emphasised. There is no draw in Court. It is guilty or not guilty”.

On whether he has been contacted on the matter, the Igbo leader said “I am part of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide team and in fact, as a lawyer in the court case, yes. I am in”.

Speaking further on the series of court adjournments on the matter, Chief Uwazurike opined, that there are different groups in government pushing their views and values, adding that there is a group that is all out for a violent solution.

He noted that whereas one group is anxious to sentence Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, another group is interested in a political solution.

“You know that government policy is an offshoot of policies enunciated by the kitchen and official cabinets. The men and women of influence go to great lengths to control the government”, Uwazurike noted.

Suggesting names of those who should negotiate, Uwazurike listed Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by the President General, Ambassador George Obiozor and his Secretary General, Ambassador Okey Emuchay and indeed, stressing that the team has the goodwill of Ndigbo and the confidence to lead the negotiations.

According to him, “the Governors should be there. Of late, the governors have begun to distinguish between IPOB and the impostors also called Known gunmen. The national assembly members must be there. The distinguished Sen. Abaribe and his colleagues have been in the forefront. The clergy of course and the women are expected to be there”.

In his views, Prof. Gregory Ibe, Founder and Chancellor, Gregory University, Uturu said he had always believed and advocated dialogue as the way out of the crisis.

According to him, he had addressed a press conference shortly before Nnamdi kanu was arrested, where he clearly articulated the benefits of dialogue.

The Chancellor warned that, all the statements that are targeted at the Igbo race will not solve the problem.

“The only thing that can work, is engagement, engagement, engagement” Prof Ibe emphasised.

He recalled that during the tenure of Olusegun Obasanjo as President, under the watch of the United Nations, the former President adopted dialogue to bring the Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo to the dialogue table thereby, substantially ameliorating the problem.

“Involvement of the UN, says Professor Ibe, elevates the confidence threshold, reduces suspicion and ultimately, enhances acceptability and implementation of agreements”, he added.

Reacting to the new posture of the Federal Government Emeka Ugwu-Ojo: Founder of Nigerian Entrepreneurs Summit and Honours, NESH, and one time President of the South-East, South-South Professionals said that it is a no-brainer not because the AGF said or did not say that dialogue or a political solution should be adopted.

To Ugwu-Ojo, what is important is for it to have a meaningful resolution no matter who is involved.

Explaining further, he said “Actually, the surprise is that we have had to wait this long, waiting for someone to propose dialogue. It was the mishandling of Boko Haram that allowed it to fester to the point that it could no longer be controlled. The same thing happened in the Niger Delta and now with Nnamdi Kanu. We wait till the person attracts a large following and the problem becomes almost intractable as we are now witnessing”.

Describing the situation as absurd, Ugwu-Ojo maintained that it is as if we wait till it becomes obvious that a military might not be feasible or that the cost might be too high that it is not worth it, that we are now doing what we should have done much earlier”.

“Of course, there is this whole angle of the AGF waiting for people to suggest the solution to the problem when in actual fact, it should be the Government being eager and proposing the only path to a resolution”.

“AGF shouldn’t be waiting for a suggestion from other people. It is actually the Government that should be looking for a solution. And in the case of Nnamdi Kanu who holds British Citizenship, nothing stops the Federal Government from seeking the intervention of Britain if for no other reason to get some necessary guarantees about the workability of the option”.

“I think dialogue or a political solution is the way to go”, Ugwu-Ojo insisted.

In his submission, Permanent Representative of the Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity (CCDI) to the United Nations, Mr. Olufemi Aduwo told TRUE VISION that the only way is for the federal government to take advantage of the presence of Kanu in its custody to strike a meaningful dialogue.

Aduwo said, “It may look somehow, but the government should start a process of engagement. When you are fighting any religious, tribal or political war, it takes time and tactics to end it. The best option is to engage them because every war will still end up on the roundtable.”

According to him, the only way to guarantee peace in the south-east is not by force or military options only, adding that the National Security Adviser should take the lead on behalf of the government to engage and look into the different agitations and concerns.

Aduwo, who is also the president of the Rights Monitoring Group (RMG), stated that, “For example, I expect Mr President through his security advisers especially the National Security Adviser, to have a conversation with Nnamdi Kanu, while he is still in detention. If Kanu dies today in detention, God forbids, the agitation for Biafra may not still fizzle out”.

On whom should be involved in the dialogue process, Aduwo advised that “Let the elders from the south-east and a committee from the federal government seat with him (Kanu) and get his commitment for peaceful resolution. We can’t continue like this; there is no peace in the east and the effect especially on hands-on trade and skills may soon be felt across the country.

“School children are at home, workers can’t move, traders are shut down from going to market. The federal government and other stakeholders should forget about ego and institute a dialogue process with Kanu and IPOB. If the US can negotiate with the Taliban, why are we thinking it is a big deal? Aduwo queried.

Also speaking on the matter, Secretary General of Non-indigenes Association (Ado-Odo LGA branch) in Ogun State, Dr Israel Oseafiana said that the step by the government is good but a little bit belated.

According to Dr Oseafiana, a lot of people have died and properties destroyed due to agitations by the separatists.

He, therefore, reasoned that such action should have been taken before now.

“As much as it is a good step, it is somehow belated. However, it depends on what they are bringing on the table. What they are bringing on the table for the agitators matters a lot. Many people believe that the oneness of Nigeria is not negotiable but the truth remains that it is as if they cannot bring all the regions together through a balanced political equation”.