UMUAHIA—AFARA community in Ibeku Land, Umuahia, Abia State was electrified last Friday when their son and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, returned to his ancestoral home after he was released the Kuje Prisons on bail.
The community had been in joyous mood since the day he was released and naturally they have been looking forward to seeing his return home to cool his head for some time.
So when the news filtered in early Friday morning that Kanu was likely to come home, all eyes were focused on his father’s palace. Of course they were aware of the restriction placed on him via his bail condition but they believed they would be able to at least wave to him from afar as their brother.
Gaining acceess
At about 2.00pm, Kanu arrived in a rather quiet manner. He was just driven into the palace to the joy of his siblings and family members who out of joy could not resist making shouts of joy while welcoming him. Though the members of the community were not allowed in, because of the desire for respect of the bail conditions, they began to celebrate the moment they heard the shouts of joy in the palace of their monarch, which indicated that the son turned hero has arrived home. They sang and danced around their areas but without gaining access to the palace.
It was obvious that the people of Afara were elated over the return of their son. No security personnel were seen but it was believed that some secret police personnel were planted around the area to monitor ths situation. However, a handful of youths believed to be members of the IPOB were seen around the gate to “protect their leader.” They were all calm and well behaved, just asking visitors few questions on their mission to the place.
Later in the evening, sound of the traditional 21 gun salute was heard from the direction of his Nnamdi’s father’s palace indicating that a hero has arrived home. Though there was open and loud celebration of his return to Umuahia but the members community were happy that their prince and brother has eventually returned home. “Yes we are very happy. If not for the restriction placed on him by the court, this community would have turned to carnival of a sort. But we have to obey the order and to help him because we want the government to know that he is not a law breaker but a law keeper”, a resident of the community, Emeka Akabuike said.
His father, His Royal Highness, Eze Israel Kanu believes that God who made it possible for his son to be granted bail would also make it possible for him to have total freedom. He described his son as someone who does no think ill of anybody. “I am giving God all the glory, while thanking every one who in one way or the other contributed to his release. He will not fail or deny the struggle which he is into.The struggle he is into is like a relay race, after running his own portion of the race, he will hand over to another to continue when he gets tired until victory is achieved”, the monarch said.
Eze Kanu that the IPOB leader wants to comply with the bail conditions to letter so as not to run foul of the law.