Most Rev. Biereonwu Livinus Onuagha, the Methodist Archbishop of Okigwe Archdiocese, expressed his belief that the Federal Government is strategically using the prolonged detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to oppress the Igbo people.
Speaking at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Okigwe, Imo State during the 43rd Annual Diocesan Synod of the Methodist Church of Okigwe for 2024, Onuagha highlighted the government’s ulterior motives behind Kanu’s continued incarceration.
He suggested that the authorities aim to incite a defensive response from the Igbo community, akin to a mother hen protecting her chicks, to create tensions and target specific groups aligned with the ruling party.
Expressing disappointment towards the collaborative efforts of the Executive and Judiciary branches in prolonging Kanu’s detention, Onuagha called upon the Igbo populace to uphold their reputation for maturity and compliance with the law when faced with threats to their community.
Onuagha, who recently underwent a successful eye surgery, emphasized, “I have returned to address the prolonged detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as another illustration of the executive branch meddling with the judicial system in Nigeria.
“Despite the Judiciary’s ruling in his favor, Nnamdi Kanu remains in custody due to the blatant disregard of the executive branch. The Judiciary’s attempts to revisit the case have been thwarted by those in power, silencing their voices on the matter.”