Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was on an official visit to Kaduna State when the then governor, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi wanted to commission some projects executed by his administration including the flyover constructed to ease traffic jam on Kawo road.
When it was time to host the then President to a dinner, something happened. Professor Jerry Gana hilariously talked about the agitation for the actualisation of Biafra. Then, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was never in the picture. MASSOB was then doing their agitation.
After the speech by Prof. Gana, the former President who was visibly displeased with the views of his Minister of Regional Cooperation &Integration, retorted by saying “I think you are more resourceful than that, Gana. Perish the thought that Biafra will ever resurrect again. It is dead forever.”
Obasanjo is still alive and seeing the sort of anarchy going in the South-East instigated by members of the outlawed IPOB and the brain behind it is a United Kingdom-based Igbo Youth, Nnamdi Kanu, who jumped bail granted by law court of competent jurisdiction with two sureties including Senator Enyinaya Abaribe.
Since his jumping bail Kanu has waging war against Nigeria.
Only last week, he gave a sit-at-home order to mark the May 30, 1967 anniversary of Biafra.
The total shut down of the five states in the South-East due to the fear driven into the people and prior destruction of INEC offices and killing of Police operatives and soldiers carrying out lawful duties should make Chief Obasanjo realise that the ghost of Biafra is roving the south-east disturbing the peace there.
Perhaps, the failure of the present Government to ensure that those who stood sureties for Kanu are behind bars until they can produce him is highly disturbing and the inability of the governors of the five states and chieftains of Ohaneze Ndi’ Igbo to rise to the challenges being posed by Kanu who in a recent broadcast described them as” idiots” should tell us the non-Igbos that something is fishy somewhere because they have the responsibility to safeguard lives and property but they are not doing so.
I stand by Obasanjo’s position that the Biafra for agitation is an exercise in futility. Kanu will not realise his dream in our life time except the traitors kill all well-meaning Nigerians on this soil.
Their agitation is dead on arrival because where late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu did not succeed I find it difficult to see that ability in Kanu to make Biafra come to fruition.
The other day some Igbo leaders were asking PMB to discuss with Kanu, stressing that the traitor is his “son”.
The dead silence from the Presidency should not be taken as a sign of weakness.
I believe there are conspirators among those asking PMB to dialogue with Kanu.
The earlier they identify themselves, the better. This is because the consequences of their activities with IPOB hoodlums will be dire in the long run.
Obassa is based in Abuja
