The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, remains resolute in his fight against the marginalization of the South-East region and will not abandon his demands even if he is released from detention, his brother, Kanunta Kanu, has stated.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Post, Kanunta warned the Federal Government against exploiting Kanu’s release as a campaign strategy for the 2027 presidential election. He also addressed the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed prime minister of the Biafra Government in Exile.
Kanunta reiterated that Nnamdi Kanu’s focus is on addressing the underdevelopment of the South-East. “His release will not change anything because he made a simple demand on August 30, 2017, at the Enugu State Government House.
He said, ‘You will have to provide us with what we need, which are good roads, hospitals, education, and building factories to create employment.’ These were his demands; it’s everywhere,” he said.
Kanunta dismissed claims that Kanu’s agitation is centered solely on Biafra. Instead, he pointed to the possibility of adopting the 1960 constitution, which allows regional autonomy, as an alternative.
Responding to whether Kanu would ease his stance if these demands were met, Kanunta said, “They should dialogue with him. Why is it difficult for them to dialogue with him? That is where the problem is. Anybody who knows Kanu should know that he’s resolute and never a problem. He meant well for everybody till tomorrow.”
Kanunta criticized the government’s refusal to engage in dialogue and its actions following the 2017 meeting, such as deploying Operation Python Dance to his family home. He lamented the broader dissatisfaction among Nigerians, highlighting economic hardships like skyrocketing prices of essentials.
“The people are tired of the union. Something must change. It’s time Mr. President calls the people and listens to them. There are court orders, but the Nigerian government has refused to obey them, which is very sad,” he stated.
Kanunta emphasized that the current state of Nigeria is unsustainable, saying, “Nobody should blame anybody for agitating because if Nigeria is functioning, nobody will want to do that. But at the moment, it’s not functioning, and it will never function unless there’s a thorough overhauling in that country.”
