By: Onyebuchi Eucharia.
It has occurred to IPOB members that some group of individuals and some crook politicians from the southeast are clamoring for the re-arrest of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for calling for a referendum to determine the fate of his people who have lost interest and trust in the present government of Nigeria.
A referendum remains the only democratic and peaceful way to determine people’s opinion without bloodshed in a country where some sections claim to be marginalized, killed or denied of their rights. Thus, any freedom fighter, like Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who chooses the path of referendum instead of war, should be seen as the most humble and diplomatic activist, who should be accorded with respect as a man who will not want to engage in wasting innocent blood.
And this is to say that those calling for his re-arrest should embark on serious research work to know the difference between referendum and war and why some freedom fighters choose referendum to war. Then they will understand that boycotting election is part and parcel of the steps in self-determination.
This is to clear the air for some side talks that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has no legal right to boycott any election whatsoever. But then, going by the United Nations charter which Nigeria is a signatory to, on self- determination, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is backed by the United Nation’s resolution on self-determination where civil disobedience, one of which is boycott of election, is clearly stated as part of the steps that can be taken to achieve self-determination.
This implies that the order given by the supreme leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra – to boycott the forthcoming election in Anambra/Nigeria – is backed by UN law and Biafrans will totally obey the order. This is because Biafrans cannot be clamoring for the Republic of Biafra and at the same time, cast their vote to the same government that kills and orders for their arrest. They can not vote in same systems that denied them good roads, good healthcare, jobs, social amenities.
They can not support those that put policies that adversely affect their economic lives. Thus, Biafrans have chosen the path to restore Biafra through voting in a referendum that restores Biafra but not to cast their vote in a Nigerian election that deteriorates their state of being. That goes to show how mean and serious Biafrans are about the restoration of the Biafran Nation hence it should not be misinterpreted as a violation of law or court order.
However, violation of the law is when the Nigeria federal government flouted several court orders given by the
