Release Kanu now, 'Corporal Nwafor' tells Buhari

A Biafra war veteran, Mr. Sasa Ugwumba Kalu Nwoke, popularly known as “ Corporal Nwa­for” because of his exceptional bravery and adventures during the civil war, has urged Presi­dent Muhammadu Buhari to release the detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Bi­afra, Nnamdi Kanu, without further delay. The 65-year- old who spoke exclusively with The AU­THORITY in Umuahia, in­sisted that Kanu committed no crime in renewing the agi­tation for the restoration of Biafra republic, which he ar­gued was within the limits of his fundamental human rights.


His words:

“He ( Kanu) has done nothing wrong. He is not violent. He doesn’t spit blood, he should be released. What is the big idea in keeping him in prison?” The Amaekpu-Ohafia - born war veteran and writer further argued that instead of continu­ing under forced union, the various ethnic groups in Ni­geria had better go their sepa­rate ways and live in peace as neighbours.

“If a man marries and con­tinues to quarrel with the wife, rather than kill each other, they better go their separate ways. “Rather than all of us sink together everybody should be on his own. Give Biafra three years after independence and see how we will lead Africa.”

 He said the agitation for Biafra had refused to abate because of the continued in­justice and marginalisation against the Igbos and other ethnic groups in the break- away republic. Nwoke expressed the con­fidence that Biafra would one day be actualised despite op­positions from the enemy, ex­plaining that the agitation is for equity and justice. “The people are not just ask­ing for Biafra; they are asking for freedom.

Freedom is not free, it is worth dying for. “I have hope in Biafra. Ni­geria has failed God and man. Nigeria is moribund. Nigeria is in the mortuary. It is like we don’t have a nation. “The agitation for Biafra is still on because our kids have discovered that things are a million time worse than they were before the civil war. When I grew up in Enugu as a kid I never saw power failure until after the war.

“I am even surprised that the youths are not agitating as they should. In Nigeria of today, there are no jobs, the economy has gone so bad and life almost unbearable. “It is better to get drawn in the Mediterranean than die of hunger in Nigeria.” He however, regretted that the agitation for Biafra resto­ration is not currently enjoy­ing the support of “ powerful organisations and nations” but expressed hope that despite human opposition , the new republic would one day be ac­tualised.

“I am hanging around wait­ing for Biafra; I can’t be a poli­tician because Nigerian poli­tics is dirty”, he said. Recalling his civil war ex­perience, ‘ Corporal Nwafor’ who said he had no apologies for his role during the war, re­vealed that “ with two empty guns I sent 1000 Nigeria sol­ders running at Ohaji Egbema”. “If I had fought on the Ni­gerian side during the war, I would have committed suicide by now. Nigeria is a disgrace to the black race because of bad leadership”, he fumed.

 He berated the French Am­bassador, Denys Gauer over his recent remarks that France would not support the current agitation for Biafra. France was Biafra’s major ally during the 30- month civil war but the diplomat recently told journalists that his coun­try would not support any move to dismember Nigeria which he said is France’s stra­tegic partner. ‘Corporal Nwafor’ expressed shock at the statement credited to the French diplomat, saying the views must have been his personal opinion.

He recalled that France was very supportive of Biafra dur­ing the first secession bid and wondered how it could make a u- turn when the agitation had not been actualised. “But for France we would have all perished of hunger during the war. So, for the Ambassador to have said this, maybe he was bribed or he wanted to curry favour from Nigeria.

“ He was definitely not speaking from God. I am sure he was speaking the devil’s language. What has Nigeria offered the world as a united country?”