Fani-Kayode: Nnamdi Kanu is Ojukwu and Zik rolled into one

Femi Fani-Kayode says the Igbo people are lucky to have Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the secessionist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), whom he described as Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chukwuemeka Ojukwu in one person.

Azikiwe was the governor-general and later president of Nigeria from 1960 to 1966 after serving a premier of the old eastern region.

Ojukwu, an Oxford graduate and former military governor of eastern Nigeria, led the bid for the secession of the region in 1967, leading to a civil war that ended in 1970.

Narrating his ordeal at the Kuje prison in a piece entitled ‘Head bloodied but not bowed down and the ascension of President-elect Donald Trump’ Fani-Kayode said he was amazed at the depth of Kanu’s knowledge after interacting with him.

After 21 days in prison he regained his freedom after perfecting a bail condition of N50 million for a N26 million money laundering allegation.

“When I went to visit the great and brilliant freedom fighter, Nnamdi Kanu, who is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, and easily the most courageous, powerful and credible Igbo leader in Nigeria today, in his cell, we had a very instructive and long discussion,” he said.

“I had never met Nnamdi before and I was amazed at his depth of knowledge, his immense courage and his deep convictions.

“There is no doubt in my mind that that man is going places and in him the Igbo have an Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and a Nnamdi Azikiwe all rolled into one. He is destined for greatness.”

IPOB is campaigning for the secession of the south-east from Nigeria.

Its members have been killed in clashed with security agencies while on protests in the region.

Kanu has been detained since 2015, despite being granted bail by courts.