• Written by: African Politics
• December 25, 2023

Vanguard’s headline screams “Free Kanu
as Christmas gift to Ndigbo – Ohanaeze begs Tinubu,”. Is this the season
of Yuletide cheer or obsequious bargaining? One thing’s clear: Ohanaeze Ndigbo,
the supposed apex Igbo socio-cultural group, has stooped to a new low in its
desperate, and frankly insulting, attempt to secure Nnamdi Kanu’s release.

Let’s be blunt: Kanu is not a bargaining
chip for Christmas baubles. He is not a festive decoration to appease Igbo
sensibilities. He is a man facing legal charges, whose rights and the legal
process deserve respect. This cheap attempt to frame his release as a
“gift” undermines both Kanu’s struggle and the Igbo people’s dignity.

Ohanaeze’s plea feels less like a genuine
cry for justice and more like a desperate gamble for political brownie points.
Pandering to Tinubu on the eve of Christmas reeks of self-serving opportunism,
not principled advocacy. Where was this begging-bowl diplomacy when Kanu
languished under Buhari? Why is their voice suddenly loud when political winds
shift?

This Christmas charade masks a deeper
reality: Ohanaeze’s capitulation to the Nigerian state. They have abandoned
their own people’s aspirations for self-determination, opting instead for the
crumbs of appeasement from a deeply flawed system. Kanu, who embodies the
yearning for Biafra, becomes a bargaining chip in their desperate gamble for a
seat at the oppressor’s table.

The Igbo people deserve better than this.
They deserve leaders who stand firm for their rights, not ones who barter their
dignity for festive trinkets. We need genuine leadership, not Christmastime
opportunists bowing before their oppressors.

If Ohanaeze truly wants to honor the Igbo
spirit, they should: Demand Kanu’s unconditional release based
on due process, unbiased and uncorrupted justice system , not Christmas whims.

Focus on amplifying the collective voice of
the Igbo people, not placating individual politicians.

Champion the right to self-determination, justifiably as evidenced in the clear and open marginalization of NDI IGBO by the Nigerian system  and not beg for crumbs from this broken system.

Let this Christmas be a time for honest
reflection, not political maneuvering. Let Ohanaeze, and all who claim to speak
for the Igbo people, remember: true freedom is not a gift, it is a right. NDI IGBO will not be pacified by hollow gestures. We will continue to fight for our
dignity, for our rights, and for a future where self-determination is not a
bargaining chip, but a birthright as guaranteed by the universal fundamental rights.

This Christmas, let us reject the deceitful
gift wrapping and demand true justice for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Igbo people.

Remember, freedom is not a gift, it is a
fight. just like political power is not given but you fight for it.

Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the
critical and analytical perspective of the pro-Biafran agitators. It is not
intended to endorse any specific political group or ideology, but rather to
spark critical discussion and debate on the issues surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s
detention and the Igbo people’s struggle for self-determination championed by IPOB.