My Candid Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu - Reno Omokri

It is no longer news that Nnamdi Kanu has been sentenced to life in prison. But that is not the end of the world. Prominent Nigerians and foreigners have been sentenced to either life or long prison sentences, and they have come out of their penitentiaries sooner than expected. Some even went from prison to power.

Mr Kanu tried the macho-man approach in court by attempting to intimidate Justice James Omotosho and the prosecutors, but it backfired. Did Albert Einstein not say that “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”?

Perhaps after some reflection at Sokoto Prison, Mr Kanu may want to heed some counsel and reduce his red pilling, and try the blue pill.

Instead of violence, braggadocio and insulting everyone who disagrees with them 100%, persons like Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB could study the Sinn Féin model of Northern Ireland.

Let us admit the obvious. Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB are already popular in the Southeast. Why not publicly disavow violence and then ask your lieutenants to begin the process of metamorphosing into a political party?

Get a manifesto. Use your arms money to open offices. Then apply to the Independent National Electoral Commission for registration.

From there, you can peacefully use your popularity to democratically seize control of all Southeast states and make them a model of good governance in Nigeria.

The natural next step would be to expand your political influence to other zones. When you have substantial representation in the National Assembly, you can use that influence to get your legislators to tender a memorandum for the amendment of Nigeria’s constitution to achieve your political goals.

It is not every time you fight. Fighting and violence are a last resort. Utilising party politics to achieve your aim does not mean you are cowards. It shows you are wise.

Because the best predictor of the future is the past, let us look at what other similar movements did to turn the corner and achieve their aims.

Look at Ahmed al-Sharaa. He transformed from a bloodthirsty top al-Qaeda commander with the blood of an untold number of Christians on his hands into a politician who had publicly disavowed violence. And today, he is not just the President of Syria; he also received a red-carpet reception at the White House from President Donald Trump.

Look at Northern Ireland. In less than four years of politicking, Sinn Féin achieved what more than 80 years of violence by the Irish Republican Army could not achieve. Cooperation is always better than confrontation. IPOB may achieve more for the SE in one year as a political party than in 100 years as a secessionist group.

FRELIMO went to war-war to jaw-jaw, in Mozambique, and for 50 years they have been the ruling party of the former frontline state.

This prison sentence could be a blessing in disguise if Kanu uses it to reflect on the new environment he finds himself in, which is free of many of the distractions that led him to believe he was untouchable.

Mr Kanu should see this setback as Providence drawing back the bow that holds his arrow. The more you pull back the bow, the more you push forward the arrow.

So, in this setback, refuse to step back; instead, see it as a setup for a step forward. Nothing defeats a setback like a step forward.