A coalition of Igbo professionals and businessmen based in the United States has criticised the planned Free Nnamdi Kanu Now protest scheduled for October 20, alleging that it is a calculated attempt by 2023 presidential candidates Omoyele Sowore and Atiku Abubakar to derail the ongoing trial of the detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader.

The group, operating under the banner Njiko Amaka, expressed concern that the planned protest could disrupt what it described as “steady judicial progress” in Kanu’s case. In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Chairman, Chief Emeka Ejidike, and Secretary, Chief Okey Anosike, the group accused the two politicians of seeking political relevance through the agitation for Kanu’s release.

“We have watched with concern the activities of Sowore on the ongoing trial of our brother, Nnamdi Kanu. As if that isn’t worrying enough, Atiku Abubakar, who has never organised nor joined any protest to free his violence-ravaged region, has joined Sowore,” the group said.

The statement argued that politicians who “lost relevance at the polls” were now exploiting Kanu’s situation for political gain. Citing what it described as the ongoing commitment of the Nigerian judiciary to accelerate Kanu’s trial, Njiko Amaka said that this was not the right time to embark on protests that could “jeopardise the process.”

Referencing an Igbo proverb, the group added: “Ndigbo have a wise saying about a tortoise that spent years in a dung pit. On the day of his release, Mr Tortoise began to holler for his captors to quickly set him free, forgetting that he’d spent years in the pit. This aptly captures the condition we find ourselves in with our brother, Nnamdi Kanu.”

The group further questioned the motivations behind Sowore’s involvement in the protest, pointing to his own pending criminal charges. “The question well-meaning Nigerians should ask Sowore is why his sudden interest in leading a protest for Kanu at the same time he is facing criminal charges for calling President Bola Tinubu an unprintable name?” the statement queried.

It also faulted Atiku’s decision to back the protest, drawing attention to what it called “selective advocacy.” According to the group, “Atiku is from the North. So is Mohammed Usman, also known as Khalid al-Barnawi, who masterminded the 2011 bombing of the UN building in Abuja and has been in detention since 2016. Why Atiku left out al-Barnawi and jumped on the case of Nnamdi Kanu is best known to him. All we know is that only evil motives drive a man to cry more than the bereaved.”

Njiko Amaka urged Nigerians to “see through the self-serving antics” of both men, accusing them of attempting to use Kanu’s plight to undermine peace efforts. “We advise all well-meaning Nigerians to avoid them like a plague,” the statement said.

The group added that there were already credible political efforts to secure Kanu’s release.

“We are happy that Ndigbo are not in short supply of worthy torchbearers who can plead the cause of Ndigbo. We have five governors, 15 senators, and scores of Representatives. Even today, Governor Peter Mbah assured that a political solution was being worked out on Kanu. We do not want fifth columnists to scuttle this,” the group stated.