Nobody can stop me from visiting Lagos – Kanu
- My re-arrest’ll only fast-track Biafra
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has declared that nobody could stop him from visiting Lagos State if he wanted. Kanu who spoke exclusively to The AUTHORITY in Umuahia, was reacting to threats by some individuals and groups that his safety is not guaranteed in Lagos even as rumours are rife that Kanu is planning to storm the commercial city.
The Biafra activist said his inalienable right of freedom of movement could not be limited by anyone or scarified on the altar of mere threat, adding that threats only embolden him.
“I go to anywhere I want to go. I don’t listen to threats. They motivate me rather than dampen my spirit. That thing people say I cannot do is what I love to do. When the time comes I will go to Lagos if I have to go to Lagos.”
Asked if his much- talked- about visit to Lagos was by any invitation or only meant to prove his temerity, he simply said “I am not under obligation to tell you”, but quickly added that “I have friends with connections in Lagos”.
“Kani Fayode is my friend and he is in Lagos. If I try to visit him in Yoruba land, then I must see him in Lagos”, Kanu said.
On the possibility of his being re- arrested for alleged flouting of his bail conditions, Kanu said he was not afraid of being rearrested, adding that such development would only facilitate the actualisation of Biafra.
“If you arrest me, Biafra will come even quicker than we anticipate. I am not afraid of being arrested. I have been there before and if need be I will also be there again.
“I will be very happy if they re-arrest me. If we are hoping for 90% compliance with the boycott of Anambra State Governorship election, my arrest will make the compliance 100 %.
He however warned that any attempt to re- arrest him could have grave consequences. “But why will I be re- arrested and nobody is going to arrest Tanko Yakassai or Ango Abdulahi because of what they have been saying? Is it because they are Fulani? They own Nigeria? They are immune to arrest? Is arrest only meant for Biafrans and not for Fulani?
“Who will arrest Lawal Daura of DSS for flouting court order to release Bright Chimezie Isinwa of IPOB? The Fulanis say whatever they like and go free and nobody holds them accountable because they own Nigeria.”
Kanu also denied promoting hate speech contrary to accusations by his critics, arguing that condemnation of the injustices in Nigeria or the agitation for self-rule does not in any way amount to hate speech.
“I completely disagree with them. They are the pioneers of hate speech. Go through the text of speeches made by Ango Abdulahim, Tanko Yakassia or the ones made by one Abubakar. Are those ones not hate speeches? Unfortunately I blame the deplorable state of education in Nigeria because they don’t know what hate speech is all about.
“Does asking for self-determination amount to hate speech? Or asking for referendum hate speech? Where did they go to school? I think they need to invest more in education because self-determination is no way equal to war or hate speech.”
On the anti- Igbo song allegedly circulating in some Northern states ahead of the October 1 quit notice by Arewa youths, Kanu said it was a confirmation of the plots to unleash another genocide on the Igbo living in the North.
He, therefore, urged Ndigbo still residing in the North to quickly relocate to “ Biafra land” before the expiration of the deadline to avoid being caught up in the web.
“I am aware of anti- Igbo song circulating now in the North. My reaction has been to warn our people in the North that the pogrom being hatched by our enemies will come. There is an impending doom for our people living in the North.
“So, their best bet is to leave north and come home so that we can have our Biafra and build an economy capable of assimilating and absorbing all their potentials and creative abilities.
“That they will kill us is not news but the funniest thing is that the DSS manned by Fulani people will not investigate or summon those responsible. What they specialise in doing is going about and creating diversion and seeking ways to intimidate the likes of Chukwuma Soludo, Pat Utomi, etc because of Biafra.”
