Kanu was first arrested back in October 2015 for treasonable felony as well as disturbing the peace and violations of human rights. The Conversation notes that Mr. Kanu’s rearrest was greeted with euphoria in government circles because he has established himself as an “enemy of the state” by endorsing the use of violence in his campaign to see Biafra established as a separate Igbo State.
In the October 19 interview, Mr. Viljoen noted that with the continued hostility against the Igbos, who are being targeted by people he said are described as “unknown gunmen”, the Igbo people may “rise to the occasion” and, as a result, give authorities a leeway to crack down on the populations.
“The people love Kanu. I have yet to come across anyone who speaks ill of the IPOB leader because he has always been defending the locals against attacks by the so-called unknown gunmen. With his release, the people will be more fearless in their fight for independence,” the official of the peace entity of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) told ACI Africa.
According to the DHPI official, the entry of Peter Obi, an Igbo, in the 2023 presidential race in which the Catholic contestant is “gathering momentum” is also likely to rub the government the wrong way.
Mr. Obi of the Labour Party (LP) will contest with 18 others, key among them two-time Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Bola Tinubu, of Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mr. Abubakar is a Fulani while Tinubu holds both the chieftaincies of the Asiwaju of Lagos and the Jagaban of Borgu kingdom in Niger State. Goodluck Jonathan of the Ijaw ethnicity, representing the People's Democratic Party (PDP), is also a top contestant in the Nigeria’s presidential race.
In the October 19 interview with ACI Africa, Mr. Viljoen expressed fears that the Nigerian government may grab any available opportunity to ensure that the Igbos do not ascend to the helm of power in the country.
“Up to elections, I think, it will be unfortunate if they turn politicking into an ethnic issue. Political elites may use everything in their power to try to stop Peter Obi from proceeding with his political ambitions,” he said.
DHPI has continued to research about the growing violence in the Southern parts of Nigeria, warning of “a gathering storm” in the region as the world focuses its attention to Boko Haram in the North.
The Catholic peace entity has reported that every attack in the South East and Middle Belt regions of Nigeria is met with reprisals by the Police and Army, “often against civilians”, with a sharp spike in violence in Anambra and Imo States.
