The supporters of the Labour Party, LP, Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has expressed mixed reactions following the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
AbaCityBlog reports that Appeal Court in Abuja on Thursday acquitted and discharged Nnamdi Kanu of terrorism charges and ordered him to be released.
The court held that the 15-count charge preferred against Kanu did not disclose the place, date, time and nature of the alleged offences before being unlawfully extradited to Nigeria in clear violation of international treaties.
The court further held that the Federal Government failed to disclose where Nnamdi Kanu was arrested despite the grave allegations against him.
Expressing mixed reactions over the release of the IPOB leader, Obi’s supporters known as Obidients took to social media to express their opinions. They alleged conspiracy theories in the release of Kanu five months to the presidential election.
Obidients in a series of post alleged that Kanu’s release may be unconnected to disruption of the 2023 presidential election, especially in the Southeast region with Biafra agitation. They also alleged that Kanu’s might have some deals with the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, in a bid to break Peter Obi’s rank in the Southeast.
An Investigate journalist, David Hundeyin who is one of the staunch supporters of Peter Obi said Kanu’s sudden release from detention five months to the presidential election should be something to worry about especially the opposition parties following Kanu’s ‘no referendum, no election’ demand, a pronouncement which he made in the last (2019) presidential election disfranchising the people of Southeast that paved way for the re-election of the ruling APC.
He tweet: “A few months to a crucial election in 2019, Nnamdi Kanu miraculously resurfaced and led a successful election boycott in the opposition stronghold.
“A few months to a crucial election in 2023, an Nnamdi Kanu miracle has just happened in the Appeal Court.
“Is this happening again?
A few months to a crucial election in 2019, Nnamdi Kanu miraculously resurfaced and led a successful election boycott in the opposition stronghold.
A few months to a crucial election in 2023, an Nnamdi Kanu miracle has just happened in the Appeal Court.
Is this happening again? https://t.co/fmHMt4vX56
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) October 13, 2022
Responding to a tweet by a follower if Kanu should not be released, Mr Hundeyin said the timing of Kanu’s release is very dodgy.
“I’m saying the timing of his miraculous comebacks is very dodgy. Last time, he surfaced 5 months to the election after supposedly surviving a house siege in Abia that was so brutal that the soldiers even killed his dogs.
“This time, he’s surfaced 5 months to the election again.
According to him, Kanu is yet to explained to his followers how he survived the attack on his country home in Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Abia State capital in 2017 by the Nigerian military in the order of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“He has still never explained how he survived and escaped from the military massacre that followed the siege on his family house in Afaraukwu where over 20 people were shot dead, only to mysteriously show up at a prayer wall in Jerusalem 1 year later.
He has still never explained how he survived and escaped from the military massacre that followed the siege on his family house in Afaraukwu where over 20 people were shot dead, only to mysteriously show up at a prayer wall in Jerusalem 1 year later.
Who exactly is this guy? pic.twitter.com/v4oAAYokhf
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) October 13, 2022
A Facebook user, Mercy Oladiji, expressed fear thus, “I don’t trust this government, dey fit one use this release of Kanu against Peter Obi. Maybe agreement don reach sai if we release you, you go help us destabilise Obi camp. But I’m glad Mr. Kanu is free. Divide and rule tactic. Just thinking aloud!.”
Another Facebook user, Obinta Emmy, wondered if the Federal Government would obey the court order. He said, “Will Buhari obey court order and set him free? Since he has the knack of not obeying court orders.”
Ekpeluchi Kosisochukwu has a word of advice for the IPOB leader. He said, “This is a time to test Kanu’s wisdom.”
