Amid the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Bianca Ojukwu as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs has sparked debate among stakeholders, who view it as a step toward national healing between the Southeast and Nigeria in general.
Newspot recalls that Tinubu reshuffled his cabinet in a midterm shake-up, with five ministers appointed, seven removed from their positions, and 10 reassigned to new portfolios.
Bianca joined other Southeastern ministers, including Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Finance; Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology; and David Umahi, Minister of Works.
Bianca’s appointment: A path to national healing
While some see Bianca’s ministerial appointment as a strategic move, Katchi Ononuju, Director General of the Heritage Centre, a think tank focused on research into economics, politics, and opinions, noted that the president recognizes the need for national healing, hence her appointment.
Speaking with Newspot, Ononuju stated, “The President understands now that what brought him to office was a political party, and he’s now working on an attempt to heal the country.
“So, the strategies previously used are no longer effective as he’s now seeking unity. Don’t forget he’s aiming for a second term, so appointing Bianca is understandable.
“But we should also understand that Bianca is not a magic wand. Inclusion comes through actions, not just appointments. Bianca, at best, represents a memory—not the realities facing people alive today.
“The appointment of Bianca is thoughtful of the president, but creating hope and backing it up with action are two different things. Appointing Bianca is good, but will he follow through on what such an appointment might open up? Actions must validate the rhetoric. As with the ministers who were removed, if the president had set an example, they would have naturally aligned.”
“Even with Bianca’s appointment, he must treat her in a way that her constituents feel truly included, which requires more than just rhetoric. For Buhari, it was rhetoric, but the actions were often disappointing and, at times, insulting.”
“Now that we have a divided country in need of healing, Bianca’s appointment shows the president’s recognition of this need. But appointing someone like Bianca also calls for follow-through actions.”
Political solution: Nnamdi Kanu and Bianca’s influence
Ononuju minimized Bianca’s potential influence in advocating for a political solution for Kanu’s release, insisting that only the Nigerian government can decide on a negotiated release for the IPOB leader.
“A political solution can only be facilitated if the government agrees to it, and it has nothing to do with Bianca—it’s in the government’s hands.
“Now that Southeastern leaders, including senators and governors, have approached the Minister of Justice with the message that a negotiated release for Kanu is crucial, and the minister has shown openness, let us wait and see what they decide.”
“The acrobatics of appointing Bianca is not the issue; the government should simply do the right thing. They have granted negotiated releases to people like Bodejo and Uwazurike, who were involved in similar agitations.
“Kanu should be allowed a negotiated release, enabling him to return and commit to refraining from previous actions. That’s not too much to ask, as it has worked before and could work for Kanu, just as it did for others.
“Nnamdi Kanu’s issue is a private matter between him and the state. We’ve had presidents before who negotiated releases. Kanu has already expressed his openness to a negotiated release.
“This isn’t new; we’ve seen negotiated releases before, like with Asari Dokubo and Abdullahi Bello Badejo—the man from Niger Republic who has been active within Nigeria, supporting the Fulani militia. Though registered as from Bauchi, I know Badejo is actually from Niger Republic.
“This highlights Nigeria’s porous borders, as people like this have been able to operate in Benue State, waging conflict against its population for eight years. It took a change in government to Tinubu for the army to arrest Bodejo, who had been directing militias against indigenous Nigerians in Benue Valley.
“The offense of people in the Benue Valley is simply that they inhabit land with water and grass. Refugees from Mali, fleeing conflict, entered under Buhari’s administration, and through an army arrangement, flooded Benue Valley with illegal militias who sought land access. This raises questions about the Ministry of Defence’s failure to address ethnic violence in Benue. While there has been a cabinet reshuffle, it failed to address this critical area, leaving much to be desired in the selection criteria.
Kanu could be released by Tinubu
He also pointed to Tinubu’s potential to release Kanu, noting the president’s desire to depart from the legacies of his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“There’s a real possibility that Tinubu might release Kanu at any time; there are no obstacles. Kanu is a product of Buhari’s weaponized nepotism, and now that Buhari is gone, Kanu, too, should be free.
“Without Buhari’s divisive policies, Kanu would not have had fuel for his rhetoric. Both are relics of the past. People should consider fostering peace in the Southeast as part of Nigeria’s broader vision. The Southeast, home to 74 percent of Nigeria’s gas reserves, does not need conflict but inclusion.
“The Igbos’ economic resilience after the civil war should not be cause for fear or discrimination. Returning to Buhari’s tactics and the use of the military, as was common during his administration, is wrong and unnecessary. Now that he’s gone, we need genuine national healing, not a continuation of his legacy. Nnamdi Kanu is one of Buhari’s legacies,” he added.
Bianca in a strategic position to advise Tinubu on Kanu
Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s lead counsel, noted that Bianca is well-positioned to advise Tinubu on releasing the IPOB leader.
Ejimakor explained that the new minister could inform Tinubu about the negative impact of Kanu’s continued detention on Nigeria’s international image.
Ejimakor told Newspot, “Lady Bianca has publicly called for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, reiterating it earlier this month in the United States during a keynote address to the American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID).
“As the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, she is now in a position to advise the President on the damage that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s continued detention is doing to Nigeria’s image globally. She is astute enough to understand this and honorable enough to strongly communicate this to the President without hesitation.”
Bianca’s appointment: Strategic boost to Kanu’s release chances and Tinubu government
Activist lawyer Madubuachi Idam described Bianca’s ministerial appointment as a strategic move for the Southeast.
Idam stated that the new minister would boost the chances of Kanu’s release from detention and enhance the reputation of Tinubu’s administration.
He said, “The appointment of Bianca Ojukwu as a Minister in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a strategic and commendable political decision by President Tinubu’s administration.
“Bianca’s appointment, along with the eventual release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, would enhance the administration’s image in the Southeast. Therefore, the President should be encouraged to take a step further by releasing Mr. Kanu.”
“Nevertheless, numerous cabinet reshuffles without assigning critical portfolios to individuals with technical knowledge in those areas will amount to a beautiful waste of time.
“The President is urged to replace several underperforming ministers, who have remained ineffective since their appointments, with technocrats with proven track records.”
“The hardship in Nigeria is real, and concrete actions must be taken rather than cosmetic policies that merely play to the gallery instead of addressing real issues.”
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