12 days to BNG live broadcast: The day Nnamdi Kanu surrendered Biafra restoration to General Innocent Orji

Video evidence attached!

A conventional day. The brilliance of the sun in making a friendly noon was excellent. Then comes a surge of desire for our trip. Many people sat at the departing station but few cars made it to the station. It was a financial cause. Innocent Orji had just been released after eleven years imprisonment a fortnight ago.

I was the journalist who followed the case. Orji has special love for those that made out time to visit him in prison. But it didn’t factor into the decision of those that would forfeit the trip that day.

We finally left Onitsha for Abia state, the country home of Nnamdi Kanu who nearly lost his voice while pleading me to bring Innocent Orji to his home for a meeting.

Nnamdi Kanu had heard many positive things about Innocent Orji. The most popular phrase was ‘Innocent Orji would restore Biafra had he been out of detention’ a phrase that repeatedly echoes everywhere.

2017 Anambra state election was a few weeks away and no-election campaign was latent. Nnamdi Kanu agreed with me that Biafra being given by Nigeria was impossible but ‘If we boycott this election; the attention of world powers would be drawn and they will tell Nigeria to give us what we want’

His line of thought was attractive to me back then, but, having improved knowledge-wise, I now feel quite ashamed. It could be Nnamdi Kanu was deliberately lying to me because he had another plan. Innocent Orji finally became his option.

He was ready to hand over the restoration struggle to Innocent Orji. Many factors convinced Nnamdi Kanu he cannot restore Biafra and relying on Innocent Orji was a better option. But, the handover would not be an express affair.

Kanu needed to get the nod from Innocent Orji that he would not be dropped or booted out afterwards. Orji promised him that his position as a leader would remain intact as the military responsibility of Biafra was and is still his only priority. Kanu then pronounced Orji to take over and ‘show us what he can do.

So, Nnamdi Kanu was smart and wanted to stay in the frame of whatsoever Innocent Orji would offer. His desperation to have him in his country home was to keep abreast of happenings while formerly surrendering the agitation to Innocent Orji whom he saw as the main man to restore Biafra.

I convinced Innocent Orji to trust Kanu because Kanu was my ally. Innocent Orji was a prayer answered and I wanted Kanu to fasten Biafra restoration by giving Orji who holds the mandate of Biafra given by late Ojukwu the needed lift. I personally assured Kanu that I would make sure Innocent Orji approved his leadership. After our private meeting; we all agreed that Innocent Orji should make endorsement press statement- which was made as a first step of the bargain.

Attached to this write is the footage recorded on that day. The roads honoured us. A peaceful journey. On reaching the way station to Nnamdi Kanu’s home, men came down and gyrated as they escorted General Innocent Orji to Kanu’s home.

General Innocent Orji’s antecedents and influence shone throughout. Unbelievably; all the men and security in Nnamdi Kanu’s home when they heard it was Innocent Orji alighting- they stood attention and saluted De General. It reminded me a fine wine only gets better with season.

We were ushered in and Nnamdi Kanu spoke his mind. Afterwards; we had a private meeting where the complete handover was obviously discussed. But things subsequently fell apart because leadership appeared more important than Biafra- and Kanu decided to continue with his noise-making struggle which resulted in me wielding the big stick of criticism.

Ifeanyi Chijioke- Activist And Investigative Writer

Writes From Enugu

Gmail Address: ifeanyichijioke97@gmail