To answer the above question in simple terms: no one. There’s always room on the street for a mad man to display his madness and there’s absolutely no need to take their words seriously.
However, Nigeria got scared and listened to the hate speeches of Indigenous People Of Biafra’s (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu. They got scared when he said, he’d get guns and kill everyone in the country and proceed to form a Biafran state. Nigeria missed the fact that they were dealing with a mad man.
The main thrust of Kanu’s fury seemed to be that his Igbo brothers and sisters are been marginalised in contemporary Nigeria. The only way for him to help his siblings, he feels, is to launch a vocal and physical attack on Nigeria. His rants made no meaningful impact and were considered by many as the words from a misguided fellow.
Madness is contagious and we MUST be afraid of that. Kanu has been able to influence a gullible few. Therefore, there’s been a senseless clamour by these unreasonable ones about a “good” cause. These ones have not been able to ask Kanu hard questions like: what are the economic plans? If a war breaks out, what would we be our defensive and offensive approaches? What will be our main goal after we get Biafra? Have we addressed the historical background of countries that have followed the same route? There are so many unanswered questions that need addressing. Perhaps, these ones are afraid of Kanu.
Personally, I think the guy suffers from a mental disorder. After I heard him speak several times, I concluded that Kanu needs psychiatric help. Psychologists define his type of illness as dissociative disorder where the patient suffers severe disturbances or changes in memory, consciousness, identity, and general awareness. if Kanu’s memory is intact, he would pick one or two lessons about what happened in Nigeria between 1967 and 1970. But then again, he’s turned a blind eye to that era; he wants a new reality without counting the cost.
By coincidence, I responded to the shady way Kanu was handled by Nigerian Justice system, on social media and it lead to a heated debate. My take: someone who preaches hate and thirsts for the blood of another human needs to be treated toughly by the law.
Kanu has brewed cheap hooch that only him knows how to sip. He should be left to enjoy it.
Let’s also give it to Kanu, he’s a smart man. How do you motivate a few Igbo people to take to the streets in the name of Biafra, yet you maintain a British passport? So just in case his actions spark an unwarranted event, he can hop and leave.
What Kanu failed to point out was that his mission is brainless and therefore, needs no support. Less than ten per cent of Nigerians understand his vision.
There’s no doubt that some Igbos want a Biafran state but things ought to be done in a proper way. At the moment, Kanu is a charging bull with no aim. For him to win the support of his people, let him draw out constructive (not destructive) plans of the new nation.
I’d have challenged him to a debate but how can one be caught arguing with someone who has lost his senses?
I tweet @moshoke
Comments