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Nnamdi Kanu – All you have to know about the activist

Nnamdi Kanu is a British Nigerian and Biafran political activities. He leads the radical Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group. The major aim of the group is to establish an independent state of the Igbo – speaking people in Nigeria who make up the Eastern part of Nigeria by leaving the country.

Also, Nnamdi Kanu is the director of Radio Biafra – a radio station registered in the United Kingdom. In October 2015, he was arrested on charges of treason in Lagos state, southwestern Nigeria.

 He was kept in detention for over a year, even though multiple court rulings demanded his release. Finally, he was released on the 28th of April 2017. He was released from prison on bail.

Background and early life

Nnamdi Kanu is a native of Isiama Afara in the Umuahia local government area of Abia State in the Eastern part of the country. His parents Eze Isreal Kanu and his mother, Ugoeze Nnenne Kanu, are well advanced in age. His father is the traditional ruler of the community.

He started and completed his elementary school in Library Avenue Primary School and went to Government College Umuahia for his high school education. He attended the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and relocated to the United Kingdom shortly before graduating.

Controversy and activism

In the early part of September 2015, Nnamdi Kanu attended the World Igbo congress as a guest speaker. The Congress was held in Los Angeles, California, USA. At the Congress, he told the audience, “we need guns and we need bullets.”

In the summer of 2017, he clarified his statement at the Congress, announcing he asked for guns from a cross-section of Us-based Igbos for self-defense against consistent attacks on their “brothers” back home suspected Fulani herdsmen. These attacks he complained about were carried out on lands owned by Igbos in their backyard.

Nnamdi Kanu has continued to complain against the attacks of this nature in Igboland and is why he has engaged in civil disobedience against the Federal Government of Nigeria. His application of civil disobedience in making his demands in various air broadcasts has brought lots of controversy to him. He has repeatedly said he believes in the forms of civil disobedience used by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King jr in their quest for freedom for their people.

He has continued to make his voice heard against the Federal Government of  Nigeria. A few months to the 2019 presidential election, his IPOB lead group threatened to boycott the general elections. His decision received huge criticism from politicians within the country who were enraged by his statement. However, on the eve of the election, he lifted the boycott decision and encouraged his supporters to participate in the general elections.

His new position was received by many as being open to the appeal and opinion of others. A year later, Nnamdi Kanu announced the launch of the Eastern security Network (ESN). A southeastern security force and demanded that all governors of the Eastern States in Nigeria ban open grazing.

This demand led to the killings in Orlu, the local government area of Imo state, a few days later. Kanu has disappeared from public appearances after his home was raided by members of the Nigerian military, September of 2017. But, unattributed pictures and videos have placed home in Israel since October 2018.

Although he hardly makes a public appearance, he continues to enjoy the support of his followers. In all his videos, he encourages them to fight on for the restoration of Biafra. Also, he has some political sympathizers, such as Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. Who represents the Abia South senatorial district of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 He is also the senate committee chairman on Power, Steel Development. He is a member of the main opposition party in the country – The peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Nnamdi Kanu is a British Nigerian and Biafran political activities. He leads the radical Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group. The major aim of the group is to establish an independent state of the Igbo – speaking people in Nigeria who make up the Eastern part of Nigeria by leaving the country.

Also, Nnamdi Kanu is the director of Radio Biafra – a radio station registered in the United Kingdom. In October 2015, he was arrested on charges of treason in Lagos state, southwestern Nigeria.

 He was kept in detention for over a year, even though multiple court rulings demanded his release. Finally, he was released on the 28th of April 2017. He was released from prison on bail.

Background and early life

Nnamdi Kanu is a native of Isiama Afara in the Umuahia local government area of Abia State in the Eastern part of the country. His parents Eze Isreal Kanu and his mother, Ugoeze Nnenne Kanu, are well advanced in age. His father is the traditional ruler of the community.

He started and completed his elementary school in Library Avenue Primary School and went to Government College Umuahia for his high school education. He attended the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and relocated to the United Kingdom shortly before graduating.

Controversy and activism

In the early part of September 2015, Nnamdi Kanu attended the World Igbo congress as a guest speaker. The Congress was held in Los Angeles, California, USA. At the Congress, he told the audience, “we need guns and we need bullets.”

In the summer of 2017, he clarified his statement at the Congress, announcing he asked for guns from a cross-section of Us-based Igbos for self-defense against consistent attacks on their “brothers” back home suspected Fulani herdsmen. These attacks he complained about were carried out on lands owned by Igbos in their backyard.

Nnamdi Kanu has continued to complain against the attacks of this nature in Igboland and is why he has engaged in civil disobedience against the Federal Government of Nigeria. His application of civil disobedience in making his demands in various air broadcasts has brought lots of controversy to him. He has repeatedly said he believes in the forms of civil disobedience used by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King jr in their quest for freedom for their people.

He has continued to make his voice heard against the Federal Government of  Nigeria. A few months to the 2019 presidential election, his IPOB lead group threatened to boycott the general elections. His decision received huge criticism from politicians within the country who were enraged by his statement. However, on the eve of the election, he lifted the boycott decision and encouraged his supporters to participate in the general elections.

His new position was received by many as being open to the appeal and opinion of others. A year later, Nnamdi Kanu announced the launch of the Eastern security Network (ESN). A southeastern security force and demanded that all governors of the Eastern States in Nigeria ban open grazing.

This demand led to the killings in Orlu, the local government area of Imo state, a few days later. Kanu has disappeared from public appearances after his home was raided by members of the Nigerian military, September of 2017. But, unattributed pictures and videos have placed home in Israel since October 2018.

Although he hardly makes a public appearance, he continues to enjoy the support of his followers. In all his videos, he encourages them to fight on for the restoration of Biafra. Also, he has some political sympathizers, such as Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. Who represents the Abia South senatorial district of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 He is also the senate committee chairman on Power, Steel Development. He is a member of the main opposition party in the country – The peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Author Profile

bola
John Aina Ajibola has a Masters degree as an engineer and has over 3 years of teaching and research experience. He is happiest when on a bike and is also interested in electric energy and computer Science.

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Nnamdi Kanu – All you have to know about the activist

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