The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has condemned the killing of soldiers by suspected members of the group in Aba few weeks ago as well as in other places.
The detained IPOB Leader made this condemnation today in a brief interview to Channels TV shortly after the day’s court session was adjourned.
Speaking on the insecurity in the South East, Kanu said, “There will not be insecurity when I am out of this place (detention). I condemn any manner of killing, every manner of killing, I condemn it in its entirety.”
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu stated that IPOB was founded on a non-violent principle and that the have maintained that up till this very day.
On the soldiers killed in Aba, Kanu said, “and some of these soldiers I’m told were our people, is that correct? And the families are in mourning. All the making of young widows is condemned in its entirety. I don’t want it; I don’t want anybody to die. We’re fighting for freedom, how can we fight for death at the same time. It’s not possible.”
“We want people to be free, that’s all we are fighting for. We’ve suffered a lot in Africa. Africans have suffered from slavery in Arabia to slavery in Europe to slavery in America. So, I think we should focus our time and devote it to making sure that this Continent stands up to what God promised us and that’s why we are doing what we are doing”, he concluded.
Earlier on during the trial, the IPOB Leader speaking through his lead counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, told the Federal High Court in Abuja, that he would be seeking negotiation with the federal government under Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act.
The aforementioned section of the Act states: “In any Proceeding In the court, the court may promote reconciliation among parties thereto and encourage and facilitate the amicable settlement thereof.”
Counsel to the federal government, Adegboyega Awomolo while responding to the talk of negotiation from the defence counsel told the court that he had earlier informed the defendant that he does not have the powers to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government.
He stated that the defendant (Kanu) should approach the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who has the power to negotiate on behalf of the government.
The presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, maintained that the court was not a solicitor but only there to hear and adjudicate on cases.