TheCable

Ghali Na’Abba, former speaker of the house of representatives, says he supports the federal government’s actions against Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and Sunday Igboho, Yoruba activist.

Na’abba, who is the leader of the Nigeria Consultative Front (NCFront), said this in reaction to a statement by Olawale Okunniyi, the forum’s secretary.

Okunniyi had reportedly said the NCFront would defend the Yoruba nation protesters in court.

The police had arrested 49 suspects at the ‘Yoruba nation’ rally, held in the Ojota area of Lagos state.

But Na’abba on Monday, said Okunniyi’s statement was a personal one as he and most members of the forum’s committee are in support of the government’s actions.

According to Daily Trust, he said the federal government has taken the right decision to go after them and that the forum would not hide behind human rights to defend “criminals”.

“The issue of Kanu and Igboho is very controversial. However, I believe what the government did by way of going after them is supported by almost every Nigerian. Nobody in this country should be allowed to perpetrate these kind things,” he said.

“Therefore, the government has the full support of myself and most of the members of the steering committee of NCFront. So, what was released by the national secretary was personal to him, it’s never supported by anyone especially myself.

“We’re not supporting them, we’re supporting the measures taken by the federal government. We’re not going to support anything that’s detrimental to the state. We’re not going to hide behind the issue of human rights to defend criminals, people whose actions have threatened law and order in the country.”

Kanu was arrested and extradited to Nigeria in June to face trial after he jumped bail and fled the country in 2017.

In the same vein, the Department of State Services (DSS) launched a manhunt for Igboho after he escaped arrest when they raided his residence in Oyo state on July 1.