•Advocates state pardon for IPOB leader

By Dickson Okafor

Eze Ojoto III, Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu, Eze Oranyelu 1, is the traditional ruler of Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State. In the run up to celebration of his third ofala festival, he spoke with Sunday Sun on key national issues, and particularly expressed his views regarding Nnamdi Kanu, and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant him state pardon just as he said the Southeast should be accorded its rightful place in Nigeria. While the acknowledging the recent decision of Northern governors and royal fathers to rise up against insecurity in the region, he wondered why it took them over 10 years to do so. He also offered advice on what needs to be done to make traditional rulers more effective in the administration of their domains.

As the third ofala of your ascension is set to be marked on December 30, 2025, what security arrangements have been put in place to ensure safety of guests and visitors?

Anambra State under the watch of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo is a safe place to be, following the establishment of Agunechemba security outfit by the state government. The third ofala festival and the seven years of my being on the throne as the traditional ruler of Ojoto is a pleasant traditional event, which I mark as the custodian of tradition and cultural heritage of my people. So, the coast is clear in terms of security not only in Anambra State, but the entire Southeast as we celebrate Christmas and New Year.

Looking back at the sentence of life imprisonment passed on the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, what is your reaction to the judgment?

We know that judges are not witchcraft practitioners, soothsayers or fortune tellers. They deal with evidence before them and that is why you hear them say the matter before the court. In any case, there must be a complainant and a defendant. The complainant will present his case and the defendant will put up appearance and defend himself. That was exactly what transpired between Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the prosecution during his trial at the Federal High Court Abuja. It is unfortunate that Nnamdi Kanu did not put up a defence towards the end of the case. The court will always give you room to defend yourself and it depends on the defence you put up that the Judge will use to form his opinion, but when there is no defence the Judge will rely on the evidence of the prosecution. So, the reaction of the people in Southeast should be to approach the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to put up strong defence.

Nnamdi Kanu said he could defend himself when he openly sacked his legal team. Many expected prominent Igbo leaders like you to call him to order?

A matter in a court of competent jurisdiction does not call for your opinion rather whatever opinion you have you should go and present it as a witness or you put it in your statement as a defence. Before the eyes of the law your opinion does not count when the Judge is delivering judgment. During the trial your opinion can count and Nnamdi Kanu lawyers were there during the trial and they put up defence, but Justice James Omotosho gave judgment based on the evidence before him. So, we are not expected to call Nnamdi Kanu to order when he said there were certain powerful Nigerians he expected his lawyers to mention their name in the court which they did not do. That was why he decided to defend himself.

What other steps do you think Igbo leaders should take for Nnamdi Kanu to be pardoned?

Based on the Nigeria judicial system, the only place he can seek redress is if he goes to the Appeal Court or the Supreme Court with a strong defence, then the court can upturn the judgment of the lower court. Or the President may decide to grant him state pardon. These are the possibilities available for Igbo leaders to free Nnamdi Kanu. Meanwhile, consultation is going on and people have gone out pleading on his behalf across the country. Because the option open to him is if the Appeal Court or Supreme says otherwise.

What is the implication of this judgment on Southeast agitation against marginalisation?

Agitation against marginalisation of Southeast in Federal appointment, infrastructural development and denial of the Presidency are some of the reasons Ndigbo are not happy with the Nigerian state. And President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done one or two things that have raised our hope as we look forward for more. Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction cannot stop Igbo from agitating and even if they kill Nnamdi Kanu today, it won’t stop the agitation against marginalisation from continuing. The agitation had been on before Nnamdi Kanu came up with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Even if they elevate him today, that will also not stop the agitation. I want to use this opportunity to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant Nnamdi Kanu unconditional presidential pardon and accord the Southeast its rightful place in Nigeria, because what will stop the agitation is equal treatment to everybody and regions.

Some Northern elders and leaders have opposed the recent decision of Northern governors and royal fathers to raise N19 billion monthly as security trust fund and support for creation of state Police. Some people have said such opposition may prompt US President Donald Trump authorise military action against Nigeria to end terrorism and Christian genocide in Northern Nigeria? What is view on this?

It is unfortunate that the President of United States, Donald Trump described Nigeria as a country of particular concern because of the killing of innocent Nigerians mostly Christians in the North. The opposition of the decision of Northern governors and royal fathers by some elders and leaders from the region shows that there are top government officials who are benefitting from insurgency in the Northern part of Nigeria. Such opposition is like a go-ahead endorsement of President Donald Trump’s threat to use US military means to deal with the terrorists, bandits, Boko Haram and ISWAP in the region. Investigations by the US clearly revealed that some powerful Nigerians are sponsors of Christian genocide. And that was why Northern governors and royal fathers agreed that they must work together to end insecurity in the North. They realised that the region must work together to tame security challenges. They also affirmed at the meeting that they must act quickly or they would lose the North. So, it is different strokes for different folks. There are a lot of armed robbers and kidnappers in Nigeria not only in the North. Some are caught and some go free, but when the law catches up with you, you pay the price. Insecurity didn’t start with the Tinubu administration; it was inherited by the present administration. And the only thing President Tinubu can do is to use his position, to grant Presidential pardon to Nnamdi Kanu because it is now clear that terrorism is thriving in the North and none of the known ringleaders has been arrested, tried and sentenced. They move freely and even meet very notable personalities who serve as go-between and negotiate ransom for them.

We recently had major abductions of school children in Kwara, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger and Adamawa states. Were these incidents a ploy to discredit the government?

The spate of insecurity and kidnapping is beyond what we are hearing. There are more incidents happening, however, we are not privy to the intelligence the agencies share. People cross our porous borders and come in with dangerous, sophisticated weapons.  When he was interviewed, Sheikh Ibrahim Gumi affirmed that the terrorists have more sophisticated guns than our security personnel. America doesn’t have free meal anywhere and they don’t go to where they will not gain anything.  They must get something in return otherwise they will go back. Are they Father Christmas? America’s interest is paramount. The United States of America has the technological knowhow more than Nigeria and at their level you won’t know the intelligence they shared. Whatever they told us that is what we will listen to and that is what we will believe.

Apart from America’s military support to tame terrorism in Nigeria, what are other options?

The only option left for Nigeria to tame insecurity is to seek foreign assistance just as the President of United States Donald Trump has promised to end Christian genocide in the Northern part of the country. President Trump said he has the list of those sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria. The name America scares people because they are advanced in technology needed to tackle criminality and other vices. So, people are afraid because America can go extra mile to solve any problem.

With the tension cause by the conviction of Nnamdi Kanu, what arrangement are Igbo royal fathers making to guarantee security and ensure a peaceful Christmas and New Year celebration as your sons and daughters will be coming home from all over the world?

It has been a problem to us in Southeast since the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a lot of youths have been capitalizing on it to do whatever they feel. Even though you are agitating for freedom, you don’t have to kill those people that will enjoy the freedom if you get it. You don’t realise freedom or independence by destroying lives and property of the people you are fighting for. It is not about Nnamdi Kanu, but about the hardship in the country. Yes, people go out to do their businesses, but in a situation whereby six or seven people cannot import a container each and they contributed money to make up groupage container and the container comes in they will share it according to how many lines you have.

This method was sustaining traders and they were doing it until they would be able to raise capital to  import at least one each, but the policies of government almost stopped that. What do you think such young business men will do? When they know that if you give information about someone who is rich and they person is kidnapped you will make big money, they will resort to it. So, with the high rate of insecurity and sit-at-home in the Southeast people are scared to travel home. If they are gainfully employed, will such people sit down in the house? No. Most graduates don’t have jobs and since they don’t have anything to do, sit-at-home on Mondays has become a blessing to them. They will force those who have something to do not to go out so that everybody will be at home. So, that is the reason sit-at-home has persisted because a lot of people are jobless.

In their manifestoes, all the governors promised to create jobs. Long after the elections, the youths still no jobs. What is your take on this?

Everybody has his or her blame including those at the federal, state and local government levels. Let me explain: the Federal Government oversees the whole country. It provides employment for the people at the federal level and states do the same based on the available resources and the local government as well. But unfortunately, if you go close to any of the governors they will tell you if they have the opportunity they will throw in the towel and run away because it is not what they expected that they are witnessing. They will tell you that it is not easy to govern a place like Nigeria. So, forget about their empty campaign promises.

Many people have written off the Tinubu administration, saying that it has failed to introduce workable economic policies that can create jobs. Do you share the same view?

Would there be any time when the opposition will tell you not to kick out the ruling party because they are doing well? Criticism is the trade mark of Nigerian politicians. Even if you are doing well they will always look for something to discredit you. Because when it gets to electioneering period, they have to campaign and they will look for something that will make themselves relevant. They will look for your shortcomings and if they can’t find any they will manufacture one just to run you down. They will create a story they will tell the electorate why they should not vote for you or why you are not doing well even when you are doing very well. Political agitation is like when you are playing World Cup. Every continent has been allocated how many slots and they must complete their slot in order to make the team. There must be a winner and there must be final whether the team playing in the final is beaten 5-0, there must be final. So, as far as election is concerned there must be a winner and politicians must manufacture stories to win any election.

Before the November 8 Anambra State governorship election, you predicted that Governor would be reelected. Looking back what is your assessment of Prof. Ojo Amupitan, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) handled the assignment?

I cannot use the outcome of the Anambra State governorship election to judge the performance of the Chairman of INEC, Prof Ojo Joaish Amupitan, because it was an off-cycle election. In my last interview I told you that in Anambra State governorship election there would be no contest. I told you that Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo was the best candidate in Anambra. When you reflect on the other candidates who ran with him, of course you would see that there was no contest. I recall my encounter with Soludo, when I wanted him to do one thing for me. I told him that whether he did it or not I would still vote for him. Plainly, Soludo told me that he would not be able to it. He can only tell you what he can do, Soludo cannot make empty political promises just earn votes. Of course, like I said politicians must always look for ways to discredit you even when there is no need. That is why he scored 21 over 21 because I was awake listening to INEC declaration of results. When they cleared 11 LGAs including Nnewi South where he had the greatest opposition, and Soludo won there too convincingly, I called people and told them that he score 21 over 21.

But it was alleged that there was vote selling and buying?

Who did the selling and who did buying?

Some people were arrested and the opposition alleged that Soludo was engaged in vote buying during the election?

And the opposition did not buy votes? On Sunday after the election we went to Church, the Priest called one girl and asked her if she participated in the election and she said yes. He asked her how much did you get to vote? She said N15,000. The Priest asked how she got the N15,000? She said from vote buying. And he asked her how did that happen? She said this party gave her N7,000 and another party gave her N8,000 to vote for them, but she still voted her choice. So, is it only one party that gave her the money? No. Because of hunger, what is trending in Nigeria is “money for hand back for ground.” So, nobody should cry over vote buying after election because the person did not win. If he had won, he won’t cry. Because he was prepared to buy vote if that would make him to win. Nigeria’s election is very expensive and it will not come down until people are gainfully employed and people earn legitimate living. As long as they do not know where their next meal is coming, vote buying will continue to be a component of elections.

How can traditional rulers improve lives in their domains?

Traditional rulers are human beings like you, they have responsibility and they have additional responsibility of administering their community without resources. Traditional institution will function well if what is due to traditional rulers is given to them. If they are given 5% Statutory Allocation, they will do a whole a lot. You can’t be in village and people will come with complaints which have to do with money. And you have no money to solve the problems. Is there anything wrong if government employs a driver and a cook for traditional rulers? And you will call them every now and then to come to this place or that place. And you will be driving and somebody in the community will call you to come. When the governors and Presidents have drivers, do they think they can’t drive? They can drive, but they can’t behind the steering and still administering the state or governance at the federal level. Because calls will come and that is why they will leave the responsibility to the driver while they face governance and continue to concentrate on multitasking. So, government knows what to do to get the best from traditional rulers.Traditional rulers should be made the fourth tier of government. And it will reduce insecurity in the rural areas to the barest minimum. A President is from a community and he has a traditional ruler who knows him in and out. Every armed robber has a community except there are people that entered the community through the back door. So, in the community your subjects will come and report somebody they suspect to the traditional ruler.