Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere, has warned Igbo leaders not to antagonize Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In an exclusive interview with TheNiche, Adebanjo stated that Kanu committed no crime and warned Ndigbo against alienating him.
“I have told Igbo leaders, do not antagonize IPOB,” he said.
Adebanjo stated that while he has never met Kanu, he believes the embattled IPOB leader will be the Igbo savior.
“I have never met Nnamdi Kanu but I say, don’t antagonize him because he will be your (Igbo) saviour.”
Adebanjo explained his position by saying, “But for Nnamdi Kanu, but for Sunday Igboho, restructuring will not be on the front burner of discussions in the country today.”
“Both of them brought the issue to the front burner.”
The 93-year-old Yoruba leader expressed regret that, just as the issue of restructuring was gaining traction, a bait of who would be President was thrown to the Igbo and other proud, intelligent people with all their education, who are allowing those he claims have only primary school education to dribble them.
The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s protégé stated that Ndigbo are unaware of the asset they have in IPOB.
“If IPOB can mobilize the people and say don’t go out, and in spite of the position of the governors, no one goes out, that is significant.”
Adebanjo, who insisted on the importance of mobilization because he does not trust the Fulani, stated that he is giving the same advice to the Yoruba.
“I don’t trust any Fulani man. And as I told Governor Akeredolu, it is alright for you to pass a resolution, but before that, rally your people, no restructuring, no election.
“Go and mobilize. That is where your weapon lies. Don’t fight them with violence because the Fulani are all over the country.
“They are in your village and my village. And all of them are armed. They will run over you.
“But we have one weapon with which we can defeat them hands down, and that is civil disobedience.
“If we don’t take part in this election, let Buhari go on. Some say that is a difficult thing, but I am happy they are saying it is difficult, not that it is impossible.
“If you cannot fight a difficult battle, then go and submit yourself to slavery.”
Adebanjo stated that Igbo leaders were wrong to beg President Muhammadu Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu.
“When they did that, I said, ‘oh, my God. I was ashamed. And to imagine that Mbazulike Amechi led that delegation.
“Amechi was in the trenches with us when we were fighting against the colonialists. He was leading the NCNC youth group. We were in the Action Group.
“Now, Ndigbo went to beg Buhari, a Fulani reactionary, to release your people. What have your people done’’.
“All the fight we must do now is to mobilize our people. Buhari has all the power. He has the army but we have our people.
“We don’t want this 1999 Constitution. We must change it. Then we will know where we are going.
“Just like some people say to me that ‘Igboho is for secession and you are not for secession’. I say to them, ‘I am not for secession but I don’t oppose it.
“I don’t believe that people should secede if we have a federal constitution. But if we fail to, well, to your tents oh Israel.
“We will be in Nigeria on the basis of equality on agreed terms, no section lording it over the other. That is what will pay us. That is what we wish.
“But if it is a Nigeria with the unity of the horse and the rider, where I will be the horse and some people will be the rider, no it will not happen. This is where I stand.”
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