The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra on Tuesday hinted at what may constitute a major dilemma for President Bola Tinubu.
It urged him to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu has since been locked up by the Department of State Services DSS.
This plea sounds noble and understandable, although it is tinged with the positive irony that it is MASSOB, which at times catches a rivalry posture with IPOB, that has pleaded so.
For Tinubu, one of he dilemmas he seems to have inherited from former President Muhammadu Buhari borders on Kanu’s detention and case generally.
Should he release him or continue to keep him in custody?
Many believe that releasing Kanu is the wise thing to do towards achieving peace in the South-East.
Yet, some may fear that letting him off may be a time bomb as they will fear he can enliven the Biafran agitation.
Whatever the fear, however, Tinubu should explore reconciliation rather than keeping many enemies in the guag.
MASSOB had made the plea on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in a statement while celebrating the 56th anniversary of Biafra.
The statement read: “Today, we remembered, celebrated, and commemorated the sacrifices our gallant soldiers of Biafra made for our freedom. MASSOB remembered the pains, anguish, hunger, subjections, hunger, mesmerisation, and supreme prices our fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters paid for Biafra’s freedom.
“The new struggle for self-determination and restoration of Biafra, anchored by MASSOB and others, is grounded on the principle of non-violence.
“The more the freedom fighters are politically incarcerated, the more they are hardened, and the more the followers become uncontrollable.
“MASSOB demands the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, from the new president Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, who once declared that he does not believe in Nigeria.
“MASSOB expresses our gratitude to the people of Biafra for their eloquent observation of today’s Biafra Day anniversary celebration.”
