Unlike other previously intending usurpers of that title, his case is quite different. His message and vision is resonating with the people as a sentiment widely shared by many, especially the youths of the region, admitted so many people would rather not publicly voice their true feelings. By sacrificing for a cause, admitted unintentionally, as he never knew that security agencies will come after him that very fateful Sunday morning following his routine breezing into Nigeria; the people are beginning to believe again that finally someone is ready to provide the much needed leadership of and for the region and that someone is prepared to pay dearly for it. Unlike the great pretenders of yore who shout until settled by Abuja, this guy seemingly is genuinely honed into the cause; admitted it will be a tall order accomplishing it.
Now the region have risen to listen and cheer him on and they have been demonstrating this fervor for quite some time now following his incarceration. Icheoku says exactly how leaders are made, they rise up with or are thrown up by occasions. To the clarion call who shall I send, they usually thrust themselves up and respond, here I am send me. With emotions running high, they easily convince the people that their cause is their command as they are fully invested in their struggle and are ready to suffer on their behalf. Nnamdi Kanu has perfectly provided and positioned himself for this arduous assignment and he is now seen worthy of the trust of the people. A regional Biafran people, long in search of someone to stand up as their alter-ego and lead them has finally seen the light and they are excitedly tuned in.
Icheoku says Nnamdi Kanu has earned the right to be now called a leader of Biafra. Like the people of Israel in want of a messiah, Icheoku says Nnamdi Kanu perfectly fits this tab of the messiah to save and lead Biafrans to the promised land of no marginalization and no discrimination and a land freed of the suffocating repression of a people in their very own country that is Nigeria. He is youthful, he is very eloquently spoken like the Biafra alter ego Odimegwu Ojukwu and he is very passionate about his desire to set Biafra free. He represents hope, aspiration, optimism and everything missing previously in other various persons who have attempted in the past to fill the large shoes left behind by Ojukwu. So if, Ndigbo should rally around this guy in their effort to become equal citizens, treated fairly in their country.
Like with other such historical figures, Nnamdi Kanu has now towed the path of Nelson Mandela who suffered long incarceration in Roben Island in order to purchase freedom for South Africa from a very repressive racist apartheid regime. Like Myammar President-elect Aung Sui Chi who suffered a lengthy detention in the hands of her country's junta, Nnamdi Kanu is now enroute suffering long incarceration as a bargain for his heart's delight, a Biafra nation come to fruition. Martin Luther King suffered severely to win Civil Rights for Black Americans and so is the history of the world replete with such committed individuals who refused to take it any longer and stood up to do something about what they consider a man's inhumanity to a fellow man.
They rose up at the hour of great need to say not any more; they refused to keep silent faced with tyranny; they were not afraid anymore to confront what must be confronted and they spoke truth to power. Nnamdi Kanu did all that and he is no more afraid, a key weapon in setting oneself truly free - NOT AFRAID ANYMORE. The authorities will try to break him; they will try to make him foreswear his commitment. Like Nelson Mandela, they will offer him a get out of jail card on the condition that he drops his cause. But how he responds to the overture will truly determine if he has finally indeed crossed the threshold and attained the stature of leader of the people of Biafra.
So far so good as the guy is holding up well and having survived the initial first few nights in jail, he has passed the crucial test; now every other night no matter how many, will simply be just another night. Cells and prison custody could be overwhelming, but it is more of a mental encumbrance than the physical confinement. Some of us during our student days activism (students riots) were severally detained and it is survivable; and not as horrifying as it is imagined. But the key is the will to survive and believing in the greatness of the cause for which one is fighting.
Icheoku says unlike MKO Abiola who took to his heels and went into hiding when he should have stood up and confronted Sani Abacha to reclaim his mandate, Nnamdi Kanu did not run away from Nigeria but frequently visited Nigeria, aware of the danger of being arrested for his viewpoints and activism for a sovereign state of Biafra. He faced down his traducers and is now suffering the inconvenience that follows such rearing of head. But like with every dusk which is followed by a dawn, Nnamdi Kanu will emerge someday, no matter how long his incarceration, as somebody different from who he was when he was first arrested. His cause is a widely, generally applauded cause; admitted so many are too afraid to say something in support but privately hailing him as a hero, the man of the moment of Biafra.
His admiration and fan base is organically generated, including market women and grandfathers and is not orchestrated nor contrived by any confining association. He did not campaign for the teaming support which followed his arrest and detention. Nnamdi Kanu has now shown to the people of Biafra, by taking one on the cheek for the people and on their behalf, that he can take some pain and suffering for them. This selfless sacrifice is what endures people to the hearts of the people and the torrent of agitators who have been responding in kind, in show of support, tells it all. The throng of humanity that besieged the Abuja trial venue of the arrested Radio Biafra director Nnamdi Kanu is a testimony that the people are in bed with him and will do his bidding should shove come to push. At last, Biafra has a leader, although emergent, in Nnamdi Kanu; Icheoku says congratulations NK and may God guide and protect you through your struggles IJN.
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