The crisis in the South-East, centred around the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, continues to fuel tensions and emotional responses within the region. Dan Ulasi, former PDP chairman in Anambra State, shared his personal experience of visiting Kanu, revealing that the separatist leader becomes highly emotional whenever he sees him, often breaking down in tears.
This reaction highlights the emotional weight Kanu carries, as a figure who represents the unfulfilled hopes of many in the post-war Biafra era. His continued detention is seen by many in the South-East as symbolic of their perceived exclusion from the Nigerian state, driving further discontent and unrest.
He said the government should take a daring step to release Kanu to see if such action will quell the violence being undertaken by him. Because of Kanu’s influence, he claims, Kanu could be key in helping to calm the situation if his release is managed properly.
He said in an interview with AIT from 4:06, “I stopped going because he’s very emotional. Once he sees me, he starts shedding tears. He’s a boy who represents the energy of post-war Nigerian Biafra. A boy who was born in 1969. People virtually worship him because there’s so much disenchantment. Most people in the Southeast believe they are not part of this country. Unfortunately, they believe they are not part of this country.
So, the holding of Nnamdi Kanu typifies to them the same theory. Why are they holding him? What did he say? So, you don’t know who and who are energising these killing processes in his name because they are holding him.
So, I have said on this platform, why won’t the government take a chance? Release him and see what happens. And let us see whether people using his name to commit crime will continue to do so. And I don’t believe they will continue to do so because he’s a very influential person. Very, very influential person. If you hear his name in any gathering, it stirs up some concern. He’s a forward-looking, positive, very brilliant chap.”