Tinubu playing politics with kanu detention —Methodist Archbishop

THE Methodist Archbishop of Okigwe Archdiocese, Most Rev. Biereonwu Livinus Onuagha, has said that the incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi kanu has become a political tool for President Bola Tiinubu, adding that the Igbos would collectively respond at the appropriate time.

He said the Nigerian government want to use Kanu’s detention to make Ndigbo react aggressively like a mother hen protecting her chicks so that they will swoop on the people who are regarded as targets of the ruling party.

Onuagha said these in the Archbishop’s address he presented to the 43rd Annual Diocesan Synod of the Methodist of Okigwe for 2024, at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Okigwe, Imo State.

Onuagha regretted that the Executive and Judiciary arms of the government connived to continue to detain Mazi Kanu to provoke Ndigbo to action that may lead to swooping on them.

He, therefore, urged Ndigbo to continue to be law-abiding and show the maturity they have always been known for on matters that threaten their existence, saying peace conquers all trials.

Onuagha who recently had a successful eye surgery said “I have returned to discuss the ongoing incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which is yet another example of the executive arm of government interference with the Judiciary in Nigeria.

“Despite being absolved by the Judiciary of his charges, Nnamdi Kanu remains imprisoned due to the flagrant disobedience of the executive. The Judiciary has been effectively silenced on this matter as subsequent attempts to adjudicate over what has already been decided are met with resistance from those in power.

“My interpretation of the continued detention of Mazi Kanu by the Nigerian government is that the situation reflects an Igbo proverb “Eji Nwa Okuko arata Nne ya” which means, that when you hold a chick in your hand, you attract the undivided attention of its mother hen either for good or ill intention – whether to protect or to harm the mother.

“The Nigerian government is using Nnamdi Kanu as a pawn against Igbo people, hoping they will react aggressively like a mother hen protecting her chicks. However, I believe that Igbo people have learned their lessons and instead pray for wisdom for their ‘chick’ (Nnamdi Kanu), to handle the situation peacefully and emerge unscathed from incarceration so that all aims and aspirations may be achieved.”