Igbo Leaders Owe Mazi Nnamdi Kanu an Apology

Igbo Leaders Owe Mazi Nnamdi Kanu an Apology  History has a cruel way of vindicating the visionaries, those who saw the storm gathering but ...

Igbo Leaders Owe Mazi Nnamdi Kanu an Apology 

History has a cruel way of vindicating the visionaries, those who saw the storm gathering but were ridiculed for sounding the alarm. Today, as Nigeria grapples with the uncontrollable spread of terrorist groups, the Igbo nation must come to terms with a bitter truth that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was right all along. Those who ignored him, those who mocked him, and those who betrayed him must now find the humility to acknowledge their errors and seek redemption.

Years ago, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu stood before the Igbo World Congress and made a passionate plea. He understood the looming threat of Fulani jihadist expansionism and the existential danger it posed to Biafraland. With foresight and conviction, he called for support to arm and defend Igbo territories. His call was met with skepticism, disdain, and outright betrayal. Instead of rallying behind him, many Igbo leaders dismissed him as an alarmist, some even actively working to undermine his efforts. Today, those same threats he warned about have overrun large parts of Nigeria, including Yoruba land, where insecurity has escalated to unprecedented levels.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Kanu spearheaded the establishment of the Eastern Security Network (ESN). ESN was not a force of aggression but a defensive shield against the growing menace of armed Fulani militias who had begun terrorizing communities across the East. But what did he get in return? Instead of commendation, he was vilified. Instead of support, he faced betrayal. Instead of unity, there was division. The same leaders who should have embraced the ESN as a solution turned against it, siding with external forces to suppress the movement.

Today, as the reality of unchecked terrorism dawns on everyone, it is clear that Kanu was not acting out of personal ambition but out of love for his people. His cries were not those of a rebel but of a guardian seeing the danger ahead. The tragic irony is that those who once called for his head are now the ones who have no answers to the security collapse in Nigeria.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been unjustly persecuted, kidnapped, and detained under inhumane conditions, all because he dared to defend his people. Yet, IPOB has continued to stand strong, refusing to allow the vision of Biafra’s security and self-determination to fade. Today, as insecurity ravages the nation, it is undeniable that Kanu and IPOB were ahead of their time in recognizing and confronting the dangers that the Nigerian establishment refused to acknowledge.

Igbo leaders and politicians must now do the honorable thing by apologizing to Nnamdi Kanu. They must publicly admit their misjudgment, seek reconciliation, and work towards the collective security of the land. Betrayal can only be healed by truth, and the truth is that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was right.

The time has come for the Igbo nation to unite, not just in whispered regret, but in open acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by IPOB and its leader. Let this be the beginning of a new chapter one where Igbo leaders stand for their people, and never again turn their backs on those who fight for their survival.

Family Writers Press International