In a press statement issued yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra state,
SBCHROs said that for the fact that Nnamdi Kanu has never killed
anybody, used violence, advocated for violence or authorized anybody or
group to kill, Kanu eminently deserves the local and international
status of
a prisoner-of-conscience.
The statement
In the statement entitled: “SBCHROs Names Nnamdi Kanu-A
Prisoner-Of-Conscience On Account Of His Continued Persecution By Buhari
& Bail Denial By Justice John Tsoho”, the group further stated
that for the fact that he was arrested and detained for 98 days
without trial contrary to Sections 35 (4) (a) (right to personal
liberty), 33 (right to life), 34 (right to dignity of human person), 36
(right to fair hearing) and 41 (right to freedom of movement) of the
1999 Constitution and Articles V,VI,VII and XII of the African Charter
on Human & Peoples Rights (ratified and domesticated by Nigeria in
1983) and for the fact that the Nigerian authorities led by President
Muhammadu Buhari have flouted with impunity and reckless abandon,
several court decisions bordering on protection and enforcement of these
constitutional rights of the detained Prisoner-of-Conscience; Kanu
should now be addressed as so.
Arrest politically motivated
Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, sandwiched between security operaives, leaving the court.
According to the statement, “For the fact that Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest
and detention was politically motivated and ill-conceived; for the fact
that he was arrested and detained and is being persecuted for his non
violent political and social thoughts and for the fact that the mind of
the trial Judge, Hon Justice John Tsoho was possibly abused, biased and
corrupted presidentially, leading to the Judge convicting him even
before trial (his choice of words); upon which he was denied his long
awaited and deserved bail; he should henceforth be called prisoner of
conscience.”
The statement further declared: “For the purpose of refreshing the
minds of all and sundry particularly the Nigerian democratic forces,
Prisoner of Conscience, POC is a term coined by Peter Benenson; founder
of Amnesty International, UK in his May 28, 1961 article “the Forgotten
Prisoners,” published in the London
ObserverNewspaper. The
term refers to anyone imprisoned because of their race, sexual
orientation, religion, or political views expressed or conducted
non-violently or in peaceful manners.
“It also refers to those who have been imprisoned and/or persecuted
for non-violent expression of their conscientiously held beliefs.
Amnesty International, UK regards prisoners of conscience as political
and activist prisoners (non white collar or street criminal suspects) or
jailed international or national citizens who have been jailed or
imprisoned by repressive and suppressive political authorities because
of their political, religious or other conscientiously-held beliefs,
ethnic origin, sex, colour, language, national or social origin,
economic status, birth, sexual orientation or other status, provided
that they are non violent and peaceful and have never sanctioned the
opposite.
“Beyond naming Kanu
a prisoner-of-conscience; plans by
SBCHROsare
also on the way to formally write and appeal to the likes of Amnesty
International, UK, the Human Rights Watch, USA and the Society for the
Threatened People, Germany, etc to also adopt Nnamdi Kanu as a
prisoner-of-conscience or be given or accorded with equivalent status.
“As SBCHROs’ prisoner-of-conscience, Nnamdi Kanu will remain under
our local, national and global campaign searchlight until he is freed,
discharged and acquitted of the ongoing phantom charge of treasonable
felony”.
We remain committed—MASSOB
Similarly, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State
of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday, reaffirmed its commitment to stay
focused on the struggle for Biafra secession not minding the
distractions meant to whittle down the outcome.
The pro-Biafra group was reacting to a comment credited to Rabiu
Kaugama representing Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State
wherein he alleged that Biafran agitators have abandoned the struggle
and surrendered to President Muhammad Buhari.
In a statement by MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu and made available to
newsmen in Enugu,the Biafra activists warned that it will not be cowed
or weakened by sponsored utterances of some northern leaders adding that
the over 17 years struggle cannot be jettisoned on the altar of
partisanship.
According to Madu, ”our struggle has yeilded much unprecedented and
overwhelming diplomatic success and international sympathy/recognition; a
struggle of survival that members have willingly and consciously
sacrificed their lives and are willing to pay more prices.
Non-violence Biafra struggle
“MASSOB has made it clear uncountable times that no amount of
external falsehood, intimidative utterances and campaign of negative
impressions will ever deter us from the non-violence Biafra struggle.
MASSOB under my leadership will never be detered or shaken because of
baseless allegations of compromising the Biafra struggle. We are aware
that our detractors/blackmailers are not comfortable with MASSOB new
reformation and global recognition.
“We will continue to partner with IPOB and other pro-Biafra groups to actualize the struggle.”
