NNAMDI KANU :THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY TO EBONYI

NNAMDI KANU :THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY TO EBONYI. 

I was 9 years old when I first joined in a crowd of onlookers. The spectacle was the carcass of three young people that were burnt to death by a mob. There was really nothing to see as the bodies were burned beyond recognition. Yet people continued to troop to catch a glimpse. 

I do not know what their alleged offence was, but they were not given an opportunity of a court trial. Instead, they were put to death in the most horrifying manner by an eager crowd, a very significant percent of whom did not know the details of the alleged offense of the deceased. 

That was very many years ago. If there is any thing we Nigerians are good at, it is "looku-looku" . I will come back to that. 

On the 24th day of July, 2017, the Supreme leader of IPOB (finally) visited my dear Ebonyi State. Nnamdi Kanu has been touring States he mapped out (or will I say mapped in) as Biafran territory. The turnout of people have always been reported to be massive, with photos of mammoth crowd as evidence of the number of people in attendance. 

"The coming to Ebonyi " had a little glitch as Biafran supporters alleged that the State Governor instructed that Nnamdi Kanu and his entourage be stopped from entering the State. Indeed, I saw a Police blockage that apparently stopped three big buses carrying Biafran supporters. Some of the supporters were seen chanting  songs and dancing along. 

The vehicle I was in was allowed to drive through, and within seconds, the Biafran supporters were away from my sight. That was the closest I can to "the experience". Later in the day, someone announced that Nnamdi Kanu arrived the State capital in a chopper. I was impressed that Nnamdi Kanu could arrange a jet landing. Not until I heard another version of the Nnamdi-visit that reported that the "great hero" came down from his motor-entourage and ordered the Police blockage to clear the way and they did. 

His followers hailed him as brave for the action and that further consolidated their impression of him as fearless. 

The most I know about the visit are what I got from online uploads. I was not at the gathering, so I missed out on all the great things that may have been discussed on how to move Biafra forward. From what I saw, the "great hero" was hosted in an uncompleted building, or would I say a building under construction. With a high table of Jewish leaders, or maybe people dressed as them. With spectators hanging on all corners. 

I saw a photo of those on the high table putting out their hands, I suppose in prayer in a supposed population of my Ebonyi brothers and sisters who are predominantly Christians.With few atheists and African Religion Worshipers.

One of the reports that surfaced today boasted that 7 million Ebonyians trooped out to show support for the course. And I wondered in my mind if there are even up to 7 million Ebonyians. Of course, the people that made up the large turnout cannot all be Ebonyians, and not all were supporters. 

For one, Nnamdi Kanu came with an entourage of people. So part of the crowd, if not even a good number came from outside the State. 

Secondly, remember what I said about Nigerians being "looku-looku". We like to see. Not that they came to cheer, show support or solidarity. My neighbor came back yesterday and told me that she has seen "the Nnamdi Kanu". She was on her way to market and was caught up by the crowd. Inadvertently, she saw "the Nnamdi Kanu". She and some other people that were caught up by the crowd most likely would have been counted among as the enthusiastic supporters that turnout emass to support the course. I am not in any way trying to say that there are no real supporters. There are. The heated passion of some of them impress me. 

A crowd is never the best people to court. They disperse almost as quickly as they gathered. All they do best is chant whatever they hear the person next to them chanting. They do not know each other and no one knows who is a stooge among them. The cheer of the crowd is misleading, as their opinion sway like leaves being blown by wind. 2015 election rallies should still be fresh on our minds. President Buhari that lead us to where we are today was also followed and received by a marmot crowd everywhere he went. 

Politicians know this, that is why they do not take the promises they make them very seriously. Men on the podium are not the best people to believe either. They spew anything just to cajole the crowd for their support. After success is achieved, they would become unreachable, and no one would hold them to their words. 

Words are easy to speak , the hard part is living up to it and whatever consequences it may bring. Nnamdi Kanu is a man that gained prominence by roaring from the studio of a Radio station that was handed to him by a man he has doused into near oblivion today. 

As the 7 million-man crowd continue to follow their leader, they should keep in mind that it is the crowd that would bear the full brut of whatever consequences that may follow. 

The making of a Nation cannot be built on outpour of emotion. Governance cannot be whittled-down to what the crowd wants. The foundation of a Nation that would stand must be built on ideals. What are the ideals of the Biafran Nation? Will the Nation become anything and everything Nnamdi Kanu says it would be? Let the Biafran supporters not build themselves into a fascism. 

If Ebonyi could hold a 7 million man supporters, I believe some other States would hold even larger crowds. You know what they say "Time is money. A man with time has no money and a man with money has no time". The large mass of people that follow the "supreme leader", how are they sustained?

Do they take a leave from work to attend these rallies or do they close down their shop for the day(s) in order to attend? I once asked someone this question and the person responded and said that they do not look to Nnamdi Kanu to sustain them, instead it is them that contribute what they have to the course. 

An Igbo adage says that "if you follow a man that has big stomach, if he does not pass out stool, he would vomit" Either way, something must come out from him. Another adage says that "no one likes to squeeze (or process) a palm front that has no fiber. Maybe the bag-of - salt - reward politicians give their followers have made me assume people always follow people for the material things they stand to gain. 

They say the struggle for Biafra would bring freedom. And freedom is everything. Though it is worth fighting for, let us all hope it does not come to that.