…As Chidoka charges NASS to audit activities of soldiers during Operation Python Dance
By Chukwuemeka Chimerue & Chikwas Onu Ikpe || For Biafra Writers
October 19, 2017
ABUJA— Nigeria’s former Minister of Aviation and ex-presidential spokesperson for the Goodluck Jonathan campaign organization, Femi Fani-Kayode, has asked the Nigerian army to produce the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, or handover his dead body following the unlawful invasion of his home by soldiers.
Kayode who made this statement after the Tuesday’s court session at an Abuja High Court, also came in company of a former Aviation Minister and candidate of the United Progressive Party, UPP, in the upcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Mr. Osita Chidoka.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, the former Minister said, “I am here to show complete solidarity with a friend and brother that I met, and that I got to know very very well. I refuse to accept the allegations that are levelled against him. I refuse to believe that he is a terrorist - I don’t believe that, he has never killed anybody, he has never threatened the existence of the Nigerian State. He simply expressed a view for self-determination which I think is the right of every Nigerian. Whether we agree with that view or not, he has the right to state it.”
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Reacting to the invasion of Kanu’s apartment by military operatives, the former Minister expressed worry over his status and whereabouts, saying he has not heard from him ever since the violent raid on his residence.
According to him, “What concerns me the most, why I came here today is simply because it is very clear to me that something must have happened to him; and I am deeply concerned. I have not heard from him since the time they raided his house (just like his lawyer has said) and from that point, nobody has heard from him. What I would want to say is this: if it is that he is in the custody of the military, then they should let us know and they should produce him. And of course if he is alive, they should produce him hale and hearty. If he is not alive, they should at least let us have his body. I don’t know what the situation is but I’m deeply concerned as a Nigerian; as a person of compassion, and as a person that believes that everybody has the right to express his views in this country as long as they are not breaking the law or killing people.”
Fani-Kayode also condemned the tagging of unarmed and nonviolent IPOB as terrorist organization, saying that those who kill innocent people with arms are left unfettered and not labeled as terrorists.
“This government has refused to label those that killed 40 persons in Jos yesterday as terrorists. They have refuse to do that - that is the herdsmen. And yet they now label IPOB as a terrorist organisation. The IPOB that has never killed anybody as far as I’m aware or has ever burnt anybody’s home or used violence or carried arms. And I think that’s a contradiction which we should all be a little bit concerned. But however, having settled that, everything is before the court (let it be the same). In other things we prosecuted effectively are for him to present his own defense, for goodness sake. I call on the Nigerian military to stop the charade. And if he [Nnamdi Kanu] is with you, let us know. Give him back to us so that he can be produced before the court. And if you know you have killed him, for goodness sake, give us his body. That’s all as a friend and as a brother I have a duty to do that; despite whatever threat we may be facing as a consequence of standing, I will never ever not stand with a friend and a brother even in his time of need. And I pray for Nnamdi Kanu, I pray for his family and all those that are with him,” he stated.
Read Also: Biafra: Between Lies and Denials Nigeria Defence Minister Confirms Army Raid at Kanu's Home
“Let me also say one more thing. The allegation that 28 persons were slaughtered in his home when the military got there is something that is shocking and unacceptable. I gathered that cooks, the house boys; I gathered that some of their guests, some of their workers, even the dogs were butchered and killed. I gathered that cars were burnt and the whole house and the whole palace was spread with bullets. This is an unacceptable behaviour. This is the information I have received and I haven’t seen my friend since then.
“And I say shame on those that may not even know Nnamdi Kanu, that will hear of this very serious allegations and sit on the fence and say nothing. We are men of courage. We are Nigerians; and we should be able to rise to the occasion. When somebody’s rights are violated in this way and people are murdered in their home, they produce pictures. And yet the government act like it never happened; I say shame on them. And I say it’s time for us to stand up and stand up for even the weakest in our society and ensure that even they get justice.”
Also, in his submission, Osita Chidoka tasked the National Assembly on the need to audit what transpired during the recent Operation Python Dance carried out by men of the Nigerian army after which Nnamdi Kanu was declared missing.
According to him, “I was in court the day he[Nnamdi Kanu] was granted bail. And I stand for justice, I stand for fairness, I stand for the due process of law. I believe in the law, and I believe the law must be allowed to take its course.
“Therefore, I ask the National Assembly to rise to its duties and to their responsibilities to auditing what transpired during Operation Python Dance. The President deployed the military to quell acts of insurrection. I don’t believe that there was actually any act of insurrection in the South-East. But having done that, the National Assembly should please audit what happened.
Read Also: Biafra: You Can’t Hold Kanu Hostage And At Same Time Conducting Elections In Our Land, Produce Him In Court Or Face The Consequences— Biafra Writers Tells FG
“And all right-thinking men in Nigeria should stand up to say that our laws must be obeyed. We must follow the due process of the law. That’s what I stand for. And I believe very firmly that if we follow the process of the law, if we do what is right for Nigeria, then the Nigerian military will henceforth call-off Operation Python Dance.
“Operation Python Dance has displaced the trust Nigerians have for the military. Children ran away from school because they heard the military was vaccinating people. It shows you the level of distrust that Nigerians feel about those who have been paid to protect them. I think the time has come for the government to return the law-governed processes. And I call on the National Assembly to rise to her responsibility and tell us what happened.
“Let us know the truth of what has transpired; let us know the military men that took Nnamdi Kanu away from his house. Let us know the fact from the fiction. And when we do know that, I believe when we return to the processes of the law, this country will be in favour of its inhabitants.
“We have united and agreed to support democracy. The reason why we did that, the reason why we went to the barricades to fight the Abacha regime was because we wanted a free country where we will be right to express ourselves. And I believe that Nigeria will fundamentally work for us, if we have a country where no man is oppressed. So, I stand here today to say we want the National Assembly to audit what happened during Operation Python Dance.”
THE BIAFRA TIMES
Publisher: Chijindu Benjamin Ukah
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