The traditional ruler of Afaraukwu Umuahia Autonomous Community and father of the detained director of radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, HRM Eze Israel Kanu, has fingered the leader of the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazurike, as the architect of his son’s ordeals.
The monarch made the allegation during a chat with newsmen in his palace after the traditional marriage of his daughter, Princess Chinwe Kanu.
He said that Uwazurike was behind the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu at the Kuje Prison, Abuja.
According to him, Uwazurike’s grouse with Kanu was because he had exposed his (Uwazurike’s) poor handling of funds raised by members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) when he was the leader of the group.
The monarch also accused Uwazurike of tipping off security agencies about Kanu’s movement before they arrested him in Lagos upon arrival from London in 2015.
The 84-year-old traditional ruler expressed shock that Uwazurike would suddenly turn against Kanu who he had pursued the Biafran agenda with.
He therefore asked Ndigbo to hold both the Federal Government and Uwazurike responsible should anything untoward happen to Kanu.
The monarch, who said his health had continued to deteriorate since the arrest and detention of his son, appealed to the Federal Government to release his son to prevent his (father’s) early death.
He insisted that his son committed no crime to warrant his continued detention, saying that people have the right to self-determination if they no longer feel comfortable in their present association.
Meanwhile, IPOB has accused the South East governors of showing no commitment to the struggle for the release of Kanu.
It expressed sadness that the governors have refused to identify with Kanu’s cause whereas their counterparts in other geopolitical zones always speak out on any issue affecting their subjects or region.
The Zonal Coordinator of the Lion Zone of IPOB in Ikwuodia, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Mr. Emeka Mbamarah, made the allegation at weekend during the traditional wedding ceremony of Kanu’s younger sister, Princess Chinwe Kanu at Afaraukwu Ibeku Umuahia, Abia State.
He wondered why no governor from the South East had considered it necessary to visit Kanu at the Kuje Prison while they are junketing round the country to honour birthdays of some politicians responsible for Nigeria’s woes.
Source: The Authority Newsapaper
