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Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s aide Reno Omokri has advised South East residents to embrace diplomacy rather than the self-destructive path of sit-at-home.
He appealed to the Federal Government to release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.
Omokri explained other regions embraced diplomacy rather than force at some points when their kinsmen were being held in custody by the government.
He referenced late Chief M.K.O Abiola, Mohammed Abacha and Asari Dokunbo whose regional elders chose to fight intelligently by employing diplomacy not force to push the case for their freedom and it worked as they were ultimately released.
He wondered why the South East had to settle for violence against its own thinking that would force the hand of the government to release Kanu.
He tweeted: “When Abiola was in jail, the Yorubas did not destroy their region to force Abacha to release MKO Abiola. Rather, they used diplomacy to turn Abacha into an international pariah until Abacha was forced to offer Abiola bail (which Abiola ultimately refused).
“Mohammed Abacha was in prison for three years. How was he released? Kano elders sought an audience with Obasanjo in 2002 and publicly prostrated to him. The next month, the court freed Mohammed.
“Asari Dokubo was in prison for treason for two years until Niger Delta elders used diplomacy to get President Yar’adua to release him in 2007. What militancy could not do, diplomacy did!
“I cannot imagine any truly intelligent person saying until you release our son, we will keep destroying our region. Who loses? Fight intelligently, not forcefully. You are cutting your nose and thinking you are spiting those in power?
“And nobody can even counsel you guys. It is either you know better than those who want to counsel you and start to lecture them, or you insult them.
“The Yorubas used diplomacy as leverage. Kano people used it. Niger Delta used it. You, too, use it. It will serve you better than this path of self-destruction.
Emphasising on the nullity in adopting force against the government, the Twitter critic added: “No government can give in to force. The minute they do, they are finished, because others will smell weakness and engage in their own violence.”
Peoplesmind
