Nnamdi Kanu says he would rather die in jail than accept an Ohaneze Ndigbo brokered deal

RADIO Biafra director Nnamdi Kanu has warned that he would rather die in detention that come out of prison as part of a negotiated settlement brokered by pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohaneze Ndigbo.   In October last year, Mr Kanu was arrested by security men in Lagos after arriving in the country from the UK where he runs a pirate radio station. His arrest has sparked waves of protests across southeast Nigeria and in a bid to find a peaceful solution to the crisis, Igbo elders and Ohaneze Ndigbo have been trying to broker a deal with the federal government.
  However, Mr Kanu who has broken with Ohaneze Ndigbo and founded his own body called the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) has warned those claiming to represent him to stop. According to Ipob, nobody speaks or represents the group, unless such a person or persons were its designated officers worldwide.   Ipob has said that its leader Mr Kanu has said he would rather die in jail than allow Ohanaeze Ndigbo to claim the glory for his release as he had no business with the Igbo socio-cultural organisation. Ohaneze Ndigbo is currently involved in negotiations to secure Mr Kanu's release as part of a long-term political settlement.   Dr Clifford Iroanya, Ipob's UK spokesman, said: "We are in court and our wish is to expose the fraudulent charge of treasonable felony before the whole world. At the end of this case, the corrupt and compromised segment of the Nigerian judiciary will be publicly disgraced.   “Our march to freedom is unstoppable and this is something Buhari ought to know as we have come to die for Biafra if that is what it will take to be free. Our resolve should not be underestimated and as our leader will always say, Nigeria will kill us, we will kill them but in the end, we will win.'' Ipob's reaction follows an alarm raised from Enugu by some of the group’s members that people suspected to be Ohanaeze Ndigbo and their youth wing were allegedly impersonating the group. They claim these people met with some American officials who were in Nigeria to negotiate with Ipob over the release of their leader.   Mr Iroanya added: “The people went ahead to speak for Ipob when they do not have the power and authorisation of the group to, speak for them. People alleged to be members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Ohanaeze youth wing were said to have met with some Americans at Nike Lake Resort Hotel between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday evening.   “If any country or group is coming to Nigeria to discuss anything concerning Ipob and the release or freedom of our incarcerated leader and director of Radio Biafra, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, it is not Ohanaeze Ndigbo or their youth wing that will speak for us because they are not our members and so, cannot represent or speak for us. We urge the Americans who came for the meeting that the alleged representatives of Ipob did not represent or have our support as nobody speaks or represents Ipob except its principal and designated officers."