Insiders have expressed varying opinions about the federal government’s approach to the agitation of the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), especially the Army’s Operation Python Dance II in the region.
“IPOB has decided to up the ante. There is now the existence of a uniformed ‘militia’ called “Biafra Secret Service”. That has changed the dimensions of the situation. No responsible government will sit back and watch an individual become a state within state,” said an Insider
“Using such force of military against IPOB only makes the matter worse,” said another Insider.
An Insider with the PDP said, “The militarisation was totally unnecessary. They just played into the hands of Kanu… giving him undue relevance, how do you turn the military on citizens they are meant to protect without considering that the implications are far-reaching. Now the whole region was almost engulfed in a crisis because of one grandstanding move. When a fly perches on your scrotum, you will realise there are peaceful ways of resolving conflict”.
“Well, I think the whole issue has been mismanaged by the government from the onset. Government across the world has a diplomatic way of handling issues like this without allowing it snowball into a form of genocide. In as much as there’s a right to agitation, such ought to be done under the law without threat to the security of the state. The IPOB members on their part seem to be taking their agitation to another level of hate, violence and incitement. Deploying soldiers to the zone is ill-conceived, wrong and highly condemnable and a bad approach. There are more serious issues threatening national security which the military ought to flex muscles on. The issue of weapon-brandishing Fulani herdsmen across the nation need emergency action, the government should treat all issues with the needed attention and not allow itself to be seen playing to the gallery of nepotism and ethnicity,” said another Insider with the Labour Party.
An Insider stated that “Nnamdi Kanu did violate his bail conditions and as such should be arrested. The militarisation of the southeast is unnecessary and counter-productive. Nigeria is using MRAPs given by the US to tackle Boko Haram to face non-IED threats for instance. It will foster more resentment for the authority. We need to clarify Nigeria’s stance on the use of the military in internal security operations and a respect for human rights. From the 1960s till date, we have had issues like this, from the handling of the Tiv riots, to the July 66 pogroms, to Odi and now. We need to realise that we cannot keep handling internal incidents this way. Clearly, Nigeria’s unity seems to be something only maintained by force, one wonders if this is a sustainable unity. It is also important to realise that the government hasn’t been able to win a war of narratives due to the poor treatment of history and its own poor history. If I could advise IPOB: I’d say that any acts of violence from IPOB whether provoked or not should be avoided. It is important to note that Abia was peaceful till the operation started”.
An Insider with the PDP also stated that, “It is going to backfire, because now we don’t where Nnamdi Kanu is, we don’t know if he has just activated option B. What is the responsibility of the President actually if not to ensure the development of the country? The militarisation of the southeast is to whose favour, these people have never killed anyone. They have never killed anyone; they have been existing for years. If the government declared them a terrorist group, on what basis? We are just making a mockery of governance. Like I always say, I pray that the fallout will be managed well. Because my fear is that Nnamdi Kanu was not captured. He might have gone underground, maybe the next thing you will hear is something going up in flames in the southeast. The President needs to stay in front of this, call Nnamdi Kanu, have a one on one conversation with him”
These are members of the Political Insiders (Not all of whom participated in this issue)
Bukola Ogunyemi (NA), Amara Nwakpa (NA), Cheta Nwanze (NA), Seun Onigbinde (NA), Clarence Onyekwere (NA), Babatunde Ajileye (NA), Mark Amaza (NA), Saratu Abiola (NA), Henry Okelue (APC), Prince Deji Adeyanju (PDP), John Paul Akinduro (LP), Ebubedike Akabua (NA), Ikemesit Effiong (NA), Saatah Nubari (NA), Chinedu Ekeeke (NA), Abdul Mahmud (NA), Tunji Andrews (NA), Ileowo Kikiowo (APC), Ikenna Okonkwo (NA), Stanley Azuakola (NA), Gbenga Olorunpomi (APC), Rinsola Abiola (APC), Ayobami Oyalowo (APC), Oluseun Odewale (APC), Blossom Ozurumba (PDP), Anthony Ehilebo (PDP), Emannuel Ojo (PDP), Bimbo Oke (PDP), Abigail Anaba (NA), Tony ‘Pox’ Iribor (NA), Michael Orodare (LP), Henry Nwazuruahu (PDP), Ojugo ‘Ojay’ Onyelukachukwu (PDP), Viola Okoli (PDP), Ariyo Dare Atoye (PDP), Oraye Franklin (PDP), Lai Labode (NA), Akaebube (APGA), Aziza Uko (NA), Kayode Ajulo (LP)