By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Three U.S.-based human rights and self-determination advocacy groups have criticized President Bola Tinubu over his Independence Day remarks likening the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Boko Haram.
In a joint statement issued Thursday, Advocates for Victims of Injustice and Discrimination (AVID), Rising Sun, and Ambassadors for Self-Determination described the President’s comments as “reckless, prejudicial, and sub judice.” The statement was signed by AVID President, Dr. Sylvester Onye, on behalf of the coalition.The groups said Tinubu’s comparison was inappropriate, noting that IPOB’s legal appeal is still pending before the Supreme Court of Nigeria while its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, continues to face trial at the Federal High Court.“
It is deeply unfortunate that a sitting president would make such a false and inflammatory statement while judicial proceedings are ongoing,” the statement read. “This utterance is not only sub judice but also a blatant attempt to poison the atmosphere of justice and prejudice the outcome of the case.” The organizations urged Tinubu to focus on Nigeria’s broader security challenges rather than what they described as a non-violent self-determination movement.“
Rather than fixating on IPOB, President Tinubu should direct his attention to violent armed groups who continue to displace communities and take lives across Nigeria,” the coalition stated.They added that Kanu’s continued detention would not weaken his influence among supporters.“
No amount of intimidation can silence Mazi Nnamdi Kanu or diminish his popularity. On the contrary, every additional day of his detention only magnifies his stature,” the statement said. The groups called on the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of State to scrutinize Nigeria’s governance and ensure adherence to democratic principles. They also appealed to the international community to condemn what they described as “reckless and prejudicial utterances” by Tinubu.
Citing previous court rulings in Kanu’s favor, the organizations demanded his unconditional release and accused Nigerian leaders of “ethnic persecution under the guise of national security.” They further warned that the government’s approach could prove counterproductive.“
President Tinubu has only succeeded in proving one thing: the more he persecutes IPOB and detains Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the stronger and more popular both become. No prison walls, no courtroom manipulations, and no propaganda can extinguish the light of truth,” the groups concluded.
