Biafra : A lost momentum

By Joseph Edgar….The push for the actualization of Biafra may have lost its momentum. It’s main leader, the very charismatic Nnamdi Kanu, had built a movement with the sheer force of his character and personality, a momentum that forcefully pushed the so called plight of the Igboman in today’s Nigeria.

He had added an intellectual bent and played brilliantly into the much vaunted link of the Igbos to the Jews of Israel. He adopted the Jewish religion and successfully played into the psyche of the Igbo man of the street. This was totally different from the first separatist movement which was a reaction to the callous murder of Igbos in the north, the breakdown of talks led by the late Ojukwu with the Military Government and the then expected desire to protect themselves by calling for a massive move back to the east and a call for a separation.

This was also markedly different from the MASSOB which was more violent and crude in its tactics. They had even gone ahead to launch a Biafran currency but their campaign was much more crudish and violent that it did not get the mainstream support of the Igboman.

Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB was markedly different. It tugged at the intellectual psyche of not only the Igbo man but that of other nationals within the Nigetian nation, leading to everybody asking questions about their continued stay or position within the great nation. His doggedness, wise use of the media both social and traditional, seeming intellectual  bent and unbowed mien even in the face of a lengthy incarceration and stringent bail conditions began to stand him and his movement out as a messianic bridge towards the salvation of the Igbo man.

But alas, he seems to have lost the momentum, the fire drawn from his bowels and a seeming trail towards irrelevance. What are the things that has led to this welcome development.

First is his acceptance of the bail conditions leaving behind his fellow travelers. This marked him out as a non leader. Nelson Mandela during his 27 years of ridership refused so many conditional release especially the ones that involved his leaving behind his comrades. Kanu jumping on the train without his co travelers must have weakened somewhat the cohesion in his team and the fact that we are just hearing that he has taken his time before visiting their families would further dent his image.

Another reason would also be the pictures of people kneeling and bowing in his presence. This may not look much but the power in this imagery as moving from one tyranny to another tyranny cannot be over looked.

His map. He had drawn a funny map including nations like the Ibibio and Efiks of the South East and the south south in his Biafran dream. Doing this without consultation and buy-in of the people’s concerns smacks of an arrogance that will not be forgiven. The Akwa Ibom/Cross River people have not really forgotten how they were treated in the short-lived Biafra and would certainly not be excited about being a minority in this contraption. They kicked against this map vigorously and this showed the immaturity of the leaders, even to the Igbo man they were fighting for, and questions began to be asked if this person had the political sagacity to lead a Biafran movement out of Nigeria.

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His call for a non election in the south East, especially Anambra. This killed him as the mainstream establishment countered this vehemently. That call was childish especially in the face of fiery ambition of mainstream leaders who saw elective positions in the south east as veritable platforms for a push to power at the centre. These leadership never bought into the Biafran dream and Kanu never sought their support and there lies his Achilles hill, for with their control of resources, media and the levers of power they quickly moved to decimate his push.

Finally, the call for restructuring. This is a middle of the road solution which not only answers the question of the Igboman but also other nations within the Nigetian experiment. So major leaders like IBB and the PDP have jumped on this train, the APC has just set up a committee and the international community have thrown its weight behind a restructuring rather than an out right separation. With these talks beginning to gather momentum and aimed at ceding more power to the states, the call for outright cessation may have been muted thereby pushing Kanu’s mission into the road to obscurity.

Personally, I will like to support the restructuring. The devolution of more powers to the states while still protecting some states without the resources of natural wealth to stand alone. Our strength lies in our diversity and our numerical strength gives us a seat on the international scene.

So to Kanu, I say he should grab a seat at the table of discussions on the restructuring so that he can assist in the re moulding of a true Nigerian state where fair play and justice shall reign according to our National Anthem.

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