Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (retd) the former
military Administrator of Kaduna State in a new statement told the
federal government not to revoke the bail granted to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

His statementt reads, ‘President Buhari’s insistence that the
unity of Nigeria is a settled issue is a nationalistic wish and is no
surprise coming from a veteran of civil war who fought to keep the
country one. However, this does not take into account the mood of the
nation as indicated the growing agitations for self-determination,
restructuring and many other similar demands’.

‘Nigeria’s unity can only be guaranteed when all its citizens
feel they are getting a fair deal; when all its component parts are
treated justly and equitably. When none feels oppressed. Mazi Nnamdi
Kanu, Adeyanju and other similar agitators might seem like felons or
even anarchists. But as often happens over humanity’s turbulent history,
appearances can be deceitful. One man’s terrorist could well be another
man’s freedom fighter’.

‘In any event, despite what the security agencies might feel,
there is nothing to fear from Mazi Kanu. He and his compatriots are
people who love their country dearly and are willing to take a risk with
their lives while blowing a whistle on some of our bad habits. “It will
be a tragic mistake to treat them as common criminals. It is evident
that they are fighting a cause millions consider entirely legitimate.
“Until our democracy learns to accommodate dissent, vigorous, robust,
even if inconvenient, it will be incapable of serving our common good’.