By UZOMA AHAMEFULE

Introduction

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent on the things that matter” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

In a world devoid of injustice, it would be better for hundreds of unrepentant perpetrators of heinous crimes to be hanged than for one innocent person to be wrongly accused and imprisoned.

Since the beginning of mankind, there has never been peace where there is injustice, because justice is the foundation on which peace is built. It is the basic fabric of a progressive union, and essential for tranquility, trust and nation building. Everyone deserves it, and those who are upright defend it regardless of the consequences.

When it comes to justice, nothing can be overemphasized. The deteriorating health of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as reported, and the urgent need for his release for proper medical treatment is the purpose of this article and it cannot be overstated. His case is currently on the lips of every Nigerian, and has dominated the political discourse and social media arena. The protest calling for his release, led by the courageous Omoyele Sowore, 2023 Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and the publisher of Sahara Reporters is both commendable and justified, because only the living can stand trial.

Yes, the Internet is cheap and so is talking, thus anyone can hide behind a keyboard and a cheap Chinese phone to cause mischief. Every individual is entitled to his or her opinion; however, when such an opinion is maliciously expressed or in a way that undermines justice, it not only reveals the person’s true character but can also carry serious consequences. Sowore has awakened the consciousness of many through his “#FreeNnamdiKanuNow” protest. Everyone with a conscience should do whatever that is necessary and legal to ensure that Kanu does not die in prison.

Questions on the lips of many, and the guess on why the government finds it extremely difficult to free Kanu

Some schools of thought are of the opinion that Nnamdi Kanu's case with the federal government is very precarious at the moment. It is perilous because, after years of incarceration and denial of freedom, the prison gate cannot simply be opened for Kanu to walk away as demanded by many. If that should be the case, having suffered dehumanization, severe mental and physical torture, having been ridiculed, and now fiercely battling in court to save his life, the Federal Government fears that there could be significant legal repercussions. Therefore, all legal processes must be fully exhausted.

Furthermore, they argued that those calling for a pardon should be aware that a pardon is only granted to someone who has been convicted. In this case, Kanu cannot be pardoned because he has not yet been convicted.

Kanu was “abducted” in Nairobi, Kenyan Court rules

For Nnamdi Kanu, it seems too late for his accusers to reverse the mistake of his abduction and the resulting damage. He had said in court that he could not be tried because he had been kidnapped from Kenya to Nigeria and that nothing should stand on illegality. In what seems to support his argument, the High Court of Kenya, at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts), in Case No. HCCHRPET/E359/2021 presided over by Justice E.C. Mwita, condemned the manner in which Kanu was forcefully taken to Nigeria, and described it as an act of “abduction.” Such forceful removal “was in violation of the laws of Kenya; his rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of movement and security of the person guaranteed by the Constitution of Kenya, 2010”, the judgement stated. Consequently, Kanu was awarded 10 million Kenya Shillings (about N122 million) as damage.

Did Kanu jump bail?

Some political and social commentators have accused Kanu of jumping bail. This is an allegation that Kanu has vehemently denied. He claims that military personnel invaded his home in 2017 after he had been granted bail, killing many people and that he only narrowly escaped death. He therefore maintains that he never jumped bail.

In a nutshell, it should be recalled that the Federal Government under late Buhari proscribed IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) as a terrorist organization. Kanu, the group’s leader, was subsequently arrested. After a long legal battle, he was released on bail in 2017.

Nnamdi Kanu, who had accused the then Nigerian president of bigotry for not declaring herders terrorists, has continued to insist that IPOB is not a terrorist organization as professed. He argues that if IPOB was truly a terrorist group, it would have also been recognized as such by Western nations.

In all of the above narratives, how do we move forward?

In a society where justice is paramount, no one should be oppressed and no one should equally take laws into his/her own hands irrespective of circumstances. Every individual, regardless of the offense committed deserves a fair trial and due process.

Nothing in the human experience is more sacred than life. The moment we stop breathing, all our struggles and efforts to gain wealth and fame end. Our money, beauty, education, looks, property, popularity, etc. no longer matter. Therefore, life is invaluable and priceless. For the sake of humanity and for the creation of a better society, we are morally and constitutionally obliged to preserve it. The court is said to be the last hope of the common man; therefore, Kanu's court case should be encouraged fairly, but the process can only continue if Kanu is alive. Grant him bail on health ground. The narrative that he should remain in prison regardless of his health by some people, as justice for those killed by his followers, questions our contemporary society. Is this stance rooted in justice, hatred, fear or tribal prejudice?

A plea to President Tinubu

We have heard about the danger posed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s deteriorating health, and I am compelled by compassion to urge President Tinubu to take action to ensure that Kanu does not die an avoidable death in detention.

As the father of all Nigerians and a master strategist, I appeal to him to draw on his wealth of experience and intervene, because the developments surrounding Kanu’s case do not bode well for the nation. This is not the time to oppose those who genuinely seek a sustainable solution and a workable Nigeria; rather, it is the moment and the opportunity to begin a genuine healing process. To achieve this, it is important to be cautious of misleading advice from individuals in high political offices, especially those from the Southeast, whose counsel may not serve the nation’s best interests.

This challenging situation did not originate under his administration but was inherited. Nevertheless, he should ensure that it does not continue to cast a shadow over his government. His administration, whether past or present, has never been associated with any act of kidnapping, either locally or internationally. Notably, the leader under whose the attempted abduction of Umaro Dikko occurred in London in 1984 was the same leader whose administration was identified by the Kenyan High Court as being responsible for the abduction of Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria.

Thanks to Sowore for the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow peaceful protest

The freedom to express one’s opinion, as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others, is guaranteed by every constitution. This includes the right to protest. I would like to thank Omoyele Sowore for his sacrifices and courageousness in mobilizing and also leading the peaceful protest. Only the living can stand trial – the dead cannot speak or be arraigned – and justice can only be served when life is preserved. Kanu’s continuous detention in such an alarming and deteriorating health condition, as raised by the government’s own appointed medical experts, seems tantamount to a warrant for his slow death. It is heartbreaking and deeply troubling. The apprehension is causing havoc in the lives of many. The health and safety of detainees is the responsibility of every government, as is the case globally. Therefore, the laxity of prompt action since the alarm was raised is negligence of responsibility and a violation of basic human rights and dignity. It seems as though his life does not matter.

Nigeria’s diversity ought to be our greatest strength, not our vulnerability. However, our inability not to have effectively channelled this diversity toward national unity till now calls for restraint and wisdom in handling sensitive issues. The apparent disregard for a court ruling that had ordered for Kanu’s release reflects internal inconsistencies that undermine both our judicial integrity and our image before the international community. For the sake of justice and to preserve our integrity internationally, we must, in the future, endeavour to fully respect and faithfully implement every court judgment, avoiding the selective obedience that undermines the rule of law.

The allegation that Sowore organized the protest to get at Peter Obi

Must every issue in Nigeria be filtered through the lens of tribalism and politics? Even those who oppose Sowore cannot ignore the merit of his good deeds. His historic protest was commendable and exemplary. In my view, it transcended politics — it was about the soul of Nigeria and a test of whether we truly uphold the rule of law. Continued selective justice will corrode the little remains of our moral foundation.

Some have accused Sowore of organizing the protest for personal political gain or to target Peter Obi, and many dismissed such claims as bunkum. I won’t waste my time engaging in such, as it is akin to people in motor parks early in the morning, holding local gin, debating whether Aliko Dangote of Nigeria is richer than Nassef Sawiris of Egypt, or whether Ronaldo is a better footballer than Messi.

However, it is clear that Sowore courageously did what was right. He took a bold and principled stand for justice and deserves every accolade for his noble and exemplary action. At a time when many remained silent or played politics with Kanu’s life, he chose to speak up for what was right, regardless of the personal cost. His fearless support for human rights must be applauded. You can try to discredit him and question his motives, but you cannot erase the fact that he stood for justice where silence was a norm for political advantages, and no amount of noise, tribal bias, cheap blackmail or manufactured outrage can diminish the significance of that righteous decision. He is a hero.

Conclusion

For the sake of humanity, nation building, national unity, and development, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should be released to receive proper medical attention, for only the living can stand trial.

•Uzoma Ahamefule, a concerned patriotic citizen and a refined African traditionalist, writes from Vienna, Austria.