Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Kukah, on Friday, said those agitating for a breakaway Biafra Republic from Nigeria have the right to do so and should not be crucified for it.
He contended that since each individual had inalienable right to pursue his or her goal in life, the ongoing agitation for the Republic of Biafra by Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) was legitimate.
Speaking on the topic: “The Pursuit of Happiness: Some Thoughts On Human Rights, Freedom And Justice In Nigeria,” at the 41st Convocation Lecture of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, the cleric advised President Mohammadu Buhari to broker peace with the director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in order to ensure peace.
Kukah noted that the arrest of Kanu by security operatives compelled multitude of people across the globe to embark on protests for his release, stressing that neither President Buhari nor any governor in Nigeria could command the large number of people that Kanu brought out.
According to him, “this country cannot continue this way. MASSOB has the right to seek Biafra since we have freedom of expression. The problem of Nigeria should not be with Kanu, but should be with those who left the door opened. The president of Nigeria or any governor, unless he pays, cannot bring out the number of people that Kanu brought out.
Kukah said: “This country cannot continue this way. MASSOB has right to demand Biafra since we have freedom of expression. The problem of Nigeria should not be with Kanu but should be with who let the door open.
“The anxiety of Nigeria should be that a young man who can bring out such great number of people is worth doing business with.”
