With life conviction, Nigerians hope Nnamdi Kanu would learn his lesson, by Kola Amzat

Life is sacred. Almighty God Himself was very meticulous and painstaking in creating human beings.

Indeed, He created us in his own image, likeness and form, and ultimately declared in Genesis 9:6 “whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man”

Directly or indirectly, Nnamdi Kanu hands are full of blood of innocent and defenceless country men and women particularly, in the South east geopolitical zone.

This is one fact those Nigerians clamouring for his leniency by attempting to blackmail and coerce the president and judiciary can never deny.

Its undeniable fact that Kanu—the founder and leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a terrorist organisation that has neutralised hundreds of Nigerians in the South east geo-political zone for absolutely no justification, has made life meaningless and harrowing for people in the zone.

In June 2021, Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB introduced Mondays’ sit-at-home order, a destructive development that has almost brought to its knees the socio-economic activities of South east, a geo-political enclave hitherto acknowledged for its enterprise, industry, creativity and vibrancy.

Till date, all heinous and criminal activities visited on the people of the zone are largely traceable to the IPOB leader, particularly on account of his continual reckless, condemnable, divisive and destructive pronouncements.         

It’s against this backdrop that the verdict of Justice James Omotosho of life jail conviction on him was grossly inadequate.

Of course, the conviction won’t serve as a deterrent for other belligerent Nigerians perhaps waiting in the wings to toe Kanu’s destructive and divisive path. 

Besides, another successive government may emerge in future and grant him leniency.

Meanwhile, this writer doesn’t share the sentiments of the learned Justice Omotosho who opined that he had mercy on Kanu on account of the declaration of our Lord Jesus Christ in a chapter of the book of Matthew he refused to disclose, where according to him, Jesus pronounced that we should always be merciful on fellow human being.   

Yes, mercy is divine and Jesus might have declared it! But, essentially for those who court and deserve it!

Mercy is good and could be granted to those who diligently seek it.

The million dollar question remains: Does Kanu seek and deserve mercy?

Throughout his trial that spanned a period of about 4 years-October 2021-November 2025, he remained defiant, belligerent, arrogant, very indecent and uncouth, reckless and irresponsible.

Never had Nigerians been confronted with a spectacle of an accused, who throughout the trial stupidly attempted to usurp the role of the presiding judge and prosecutor!

Never had this country experienced an accused who throughout his days in the court, attempted to pervert the course of justice, with reckless, childish, infantile and uninformed pronouncements that the court was trying him under the non-existence law!

Nnamdi Kanu remained the only accused in contemporary history who abruptly in the course of his trial, sacked his team of eminent lawyers, amongst who are Senior Advocates of Nigerian(SANs), opting to defend himself, even though, record has it that he’s only an economics graduate.

If Justice James Omotosho is opportune to document his memoirs, that would also consists the account of his tenure as a Justice of the Federal High Court, in the years ahead, there is no shadow of a doubt that the learned Jurist would record the trial of Nnamdi Kanu as the most challenging of his career.

Does Kanu deserve to live?

Life is meant for those who have a premium for it!

This writer doesn’t share the unnecessary emotions and sentiments of some of Igbo leaders and politicians, attempting to exert undue pressure on the president for a political solution concerning Kanu freedom.

Nigeria is a diverse political entity, with diverse multi-lingual and multi-cultural settings, and with a population of 230 -240 resilient, industrious, resourceful, and largely, peace-loving people.

If just one soul of this vibrant population chose to be cantankerous, maiming, causing tears at home, and continually causing human carnage and property destruction in wide-scale, why should Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic affiliation, deploy valuable efforts and time for his life to be spared?

What’s the assurance and guarantee that Kanu would wear the garb of decency, civility, responsible and peace loving citizenry, as well as having respect for constituted authority?

What’s the guarantee that he won’t be more hardened if he’s let off the hook?

The foregoing are pertinent questions that would be difficult to be answered, by all those who have prepared to lay bare on the president’s table, political solution.

In any case, let no one bothers this patriotic statesman and already overworked president, who is already saddled with more pressing and important state duties:

With Nigeria’s recent designation as “Country of Particular Concern” by President Donald Trump, Asiwaju Tinubu already has his hands full, deploying every diplomatic solution to ensure the country is let off the hook.

It’s also instructive to mention the escalation of insurgency and banditry activities in the North central, North west and North east, with particular reference to the abduction of school children in Kebbi, Niger states, as well as criminal activities in Borno, Yobe states, on account of the unfortunate US designation of the Nigeria as country with genocide on Christians.

The president has already placed the men of Armed Forces on the red-alert, with a view to draw curtains on the dastard and despicable activities of the criminals in those locations.

It’s also important that various reforms—economic, political, infrastructural etc initiated at the inauguration of the president are already in the last phase for the positive results to start coming out, in torrents. The president and his team need no distraction to ensure this comes to fruition.

Of course, the forthcoming 2027 general elections are close and electioneering campaigns would soon start and hit its momentum.

The president needs to concentrate on the aforementioned pressing state duties, and avoid unnecessary distraction, more-so, the attempt to list Kanu’s political solution in the priority list of the president.

Meanwhile, this piece would not complete without mentioning reckless and embarrassing pronouncement emanating from the camp of Cubana chief priest, that President Tinubu would net get 10,000 votes in the South east, if he refuses to let Nnamdi Kanu off the hook.

It’s most unfortunate that Cubana chief priest, who EFCC has been on his trail for a long time, couldn’t differentiate between Judiciary and Executive, perhaps on account of his low education. Money is not everything!

Someone needs to educate and school him that it’s the judiciary that pronounces judgement and not executive. 

Before he sermonises whether the president would win or not in the South east, let him vie for councillorship election in his ward first and present the result to Nigeria.

In any case, those were the reckless people devoid of ethics and morals and values that jointly put Nnamdi Kanu in his present situation.

Cubana and his ilk were the one emboldening him that he should continue with terrorism activity against the state and that nothing would happen.  

This writer therefore implores EFCC, DSS and other security teams to keep and sustain surveillance on Cubana Chief Priest and his team.

I’m convinced that so much is happening in their camp, which Nigerian people are unaware of!                        

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB),

Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants, 09077509348.