The Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka has accused the Nigerian Government of kidnapping the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOD),Nnamdi Kanu from a foreign country in order to bring him to trial in Nigeria,
Penpushing reports that, Soyinka leveled the accusation while speaking on British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC) interview, stressing that the action of the Nigerian government was wrong internationally and morally
“For me, was it right to have kidnapped [him]? You can say intercepted as much as you want but for me Kanu was kidnapped and that is wrong internationally and it is wrong morally’, Soyinka emphasised
Penpushing further reports that, he condemned the Nigerian government’s action, adding that there could be a nationwide furore when the truth about the circumstances surrounding the arrest becomes public
“It is not for me to tell the Nigerian government to prepare itself because there is going to be a huge squawk when the truth about how Kanu was arrested (becomes public),” he said
The Nobel Laureate however, criticised Kanu’s ‘hate rhetoric’ while he was in hiding outside the country and described the hate rhetoric he propagates as ‘most unfortunate’ adding that, “hate rhetoric can only be judged by the laws of any nation.”
Penpushing also reports that, Soyinka while responding to what advice he would give the government on how to handle Kanu’s case, said the authorities should note the collective state of mind of a vast section of this nation at the moment pointing out that, that state of mind is best described as distrust, total distrust ,
“We have to ask ourselves, what is the position politically, economically, mentally, spiritually? What is the collective state of mind of a vast section of this nation at the moment? And that state of mind is best described as distrust, total distrust”, he said
“This government has earned itself distrust – rightly or wrongly, that is for it to decide – anybody who is telling this government that the people of this nation still believes it and the government believes that, it is plunging this country further into the abyss”, Soyinka added
Penpushing reports that, there have been speculations on where Kanu was arrested, while Nigerian government kept sealed lip, but Kanu’s counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor said he was arrested in Kenya.
The Kenyan government in response through its High Commissioner to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage, said the country was not involved in the alleged arrest and extradition of Kanu to Nigeria
“Kenya was not involved in the alleged arrest and extradition to Nigeria of Mr. Kanu.To us, therefore, these allegations are fictional, imaginary and deliberately concerted to fuel antagonistic feelings among certain sections of the Nigerian people.”
Penpushing further reports that,Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, at a joint press conference on June 29 said Kanu was re-arrested through international collaborative efforts with security agencies, butdid not state specifically where the arrest took place.
The leader of the proscribed group and his co-defendants were charged with offences of treasonable felony, unlawful possession of arms, and illegal importation of broadcast equipment, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
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