Where really is Nnamdi Kanu ? This is question on the lips of many Nigerians for the past few days.
Miss Kemi Olunloyo had posted on the micro blogging platform, Twitter last week that the IPOB leader was dead.
According to her, he died in Italy and has been cremated there. However, Femi Fani-Kayode corrected her saying he spoke to Kanu and that he was hale and hearty. She also swore that the actualisation of the sovereign state Biafra could only happen over her dead body.
#drkemiolunloyo added that a body double was rehearsing to make a broadcast and step in as Kanu just to hold the IPOB together.
Olunloyo’s tweets on Kanu’s death.
In a swift reaction, and in lengthy open letter to Olunloyo, Fani-Kayode caution that:
“My advise to you my sister is to withdraw this ‘over my dead body’ statement before it is too late because only God Knows tomorrow and Biafra and/or Oduduwa may well come in our lifetime…
“Finally, let me end with the following, my friend and brother Nnamdi Kanu is no dead but alive and well. We were in touch only the other day. I told you this 2 days ago but you still doubted meant tweeted that despite my words you believe he is dead…
“I repeat to you that Nnamdi is alive and well. Take it from mean please desist from saying otherwise. Death is a terrible thing and there has been too much of it flying around lately.”
Expectedly, Nnamdi Kanu made a radio broadcast in Sunday and Kemi Olunloyo suspects it was not really him. For her, a body double had swung into action. But where really is Nnamdi Kanu ?
In another reaction, Igbos in Nigeria Movement (INM) is alleged to have sent an obituary that seems to corroborate Olunloyo’s claims.
In a statement purportedly written by its President, Mazi Ifeanyi Igwe, they blamed Kanu’s death on spiritual factors and complications arising from covid19. Curiously, reading between the lines, they seem to have ongoing differences with the IPOB leader.
Excerpts of the statement:
“Igbos in Nigeria regret to announce the passing of the first son of the late Eze Israel Kanu of Afara Ukwu, Umuahia in Abia State, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He succumbed to a combination of spiritual factors and complications from covid19 in Europe sometimes this month. His passing is particularly painful considering the losses that his family has suffered in recent months.
We use this medium “to express our heartfelt condolences to his immediate and extended family members and to the entire Igbo nation. We pray that God Almighty grants him eternal rest and that his ancestors overlook his shortcomings.
“While we differed with Nnamdi Kanu in his lifetime over his approach towards the quest to improve a lot of the Igbos, we must state that is passing will cost the south-east the diversity of voices championing the cause of our people. We consequently appeal to Ndigbo and all Nigerians not to desecrate the memory of the departed in keeping with the tradition of not speaking evil of the dead by impersonating Nnamdi Kanu or using fake identities to continue his struggles.