WOW! WHY ARE THE IGBO ELITE NOT SPEAKING OUT ON THE BIAFRAN ISSUE OR IN RESPECT OF THE CASE OF NNAMDI KANU?
I am really surprised to observe that the only notable people that have spoken out on the Biafran question and the detention of Kanu are Bishop Kukah and Wole Soyinka. The situation is even worse with lawyers from the Igbo ethnic group. None of the leading Igbo lawyers have uttered a word. But also, none of the leading human rights lawyers in Nigeria has uttered a word. Why?

Speaking out on the matter does not necessarily mean that you should support the separatist movement either in whole or even in part. Also, it is totally possible to oppose the movement, while recognizing that the continued detention of Kanu is wrong. For instance, I do not support Kanu's approach to the problem. But I recognize the problem. Also, I may not support separation, but I support Kanu's right to free speech. I do not believe that he violated any law by any of those things he said. I think that people should fee free to speak their minds and others should feel free to counter them with their own views. All that Nigerians need is a genuine debate on the nature of our union. It would have been nice of the Government could lead the debate. But when the Government prefers to sweep things under the carpet, the people should be free to initiate the debate.
It is not wise or helpful for the Igbo elite to keep quiet on this matter. If they oppose the separatist movement, they should come out and say so. If they support it, they should come out and say so too. The only reason, they are silent is that they are afraid. They are either afraid of what the Government may do to them and their businesses if they showed any support to the movement or what some restive Igbo youth might think of them if they opposed the movement. But that is wrong. You must be brave enough to come out and state your position.
It is by speaking out that the world would know what the majority of the Igbos and Nigerians think. It is not right to be silent and leave the rest of the country to guess where you stand. The feelings in the rest of the country today is that all the Igbos want to secede. But I know that is not the truth. Silence is dangerous and counterproductive. It does not help the country at all. It cannot solve the problem and it cannot kill the question.
For me, I have always maintained that the quest for separation is only one of the alternatives, and it is not the best of the options. But we really need to consider the other options. Keeping quiet out of fear is really not good and it hurts everybody. It hurts the entire country and it hurts the Igbos. We need to start discussing all the options, with emphasis on alternatives to separation.