In a recent interview, elder statesman and leader of the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), Pa Edwin Clark, shared his views on the release of Nnamdi Kanu in comparison to other notable figures like Bodejo of Miyetti Allah, Sunday Igboho, and Omoyele Sowore, as reported by THE SUN.
Clark stated his involvement in the Nnamdi Kanu affair, noting that he had previously criticized Kanu for his extreme actions, reminding him that the Biafran War occurred before Kanu was born. He had advised Kanu to exercise his right to protest without resorting to violence or actions detrimental to the country, which led to backlash from Kanu’s supporters when Clark suggested that the South South region, including Delta and Edo States, should not be part of Kanu's agenda.
He said, “For sometime now, I have been involved in this Nnamdi Kanu affair. Once I criticized him for going too far. I accused him that you were in your mother’s womb when the war was being fought. This war took place in 1967 and you were not born at that time. Take it easy. You have every right to demonstrate but don’t kill people, don’t do things that are not good for the country.
“He abused me back. Because I said in my statement that he should not include Delta State, Edo State and South South region. So they got angry and insulted me. But what we are now talking about is a very serious issue. When he was being tried, the way the terrorism act was being enacted by Buhari, we didn’t like it. It was as if it was targeted against one person. So we criticized that one too.”
He recalled that Kanu’s escape from Nigeria occurred after soldiers attacked his home in Umuahia, a fact later confirmed by the Federal High Court, contradicting the narrative that Kanu had jumped bail.
Appealing to the federal government, Clark recounted how he had previously written an open letter to President Buhari, urging Kanu’s release. He drew a parallel to the case of Asari Dokubo, who faced similar charges and was released after Clark and other leaders intervened with President Obasanjo. Clark noted that once bail was secured for Dokubo, the case was effectively abandoned.
Clark also mentioned the case of Sunday Igboho, who had called for an Oduduwa Nation and faced a raid by security forces that led to his fleeing to the Republic of Benin. Despite being labeled a terrorist, Igboho has since returned to Nigeria and moves freely between Nigeria, Benin, and Germany.
Discussing Sowore, Clark argued that calling for a revolution, as Sowore did, should not warrant a court charge, citing the severe implications and true nature of revolutions, which are often misunderstood in the context of peaceful protests against injustice and oppression.
Clark stated that detaining Kanu seemed unfair and appeared to be influenced by his Igbo heritage, pointing out that the civil war ended over 50 years ago. He called for Kanu's release, stressing that holding him any longer was unjustifiable.
“That is why we said Kanu should be released except you are holding him because he belongs to the Igbo tribe. Because the war has been over for about 50 years now, why detain Kanu? It’s unfair. He should be free,” he said.