Bruh, Nnamdi Kanu is not even bigger than Nwankwo Kanu

by Alexander O. Onukwue

Word on the web is that the heaven will come on earth for all freedom loving people when they embrace Nnamdi Kanu as their saviour and messiah.

The Facebook account that the comments emerged from has been besieged with all sorts, from curses for the user to perish, to prayers for repentance from blasphemy. You never really know the minds of people on the internet. For this user, all of this could provide more satisfaction to him (or her).

But the people of the internet has taken this a bit too seriously, because as heroic and Nnamdi Kanu has been (heavily aided by the Government), he is not yet big enough to compare with many sons of the Igbo land, let to talk of Jesus. Actually, he’s not done anything as substantial as persons who bear his name, one of whom is former Super Eagles Captain and two-time African player of the Year, Nwankwo Kanu.

Nnamdi Kanu has filled an apparent void of leadership in Igbo land. Various commentators have always pointed to the apparent neglect of the South East by the Federal Government in terms of developmental projects, as compared to other regions. Some have argued that such claims of marginalization are not justified, that the same problems of poverty and inequality are equitably dispersed around the country.

Kanu’s advantage has been in the argument that while poverty is the same everywhere, not every part of Nigeria has had the same means made available to them to break out of it. He has not made arguments for a value-based reverse, however, calling instead for a withdrawal from Nigeria as the solution.

At best, Nnamdi Kanu, who holds a British passport and has his businesses abroad, seems to be taking advantage of the vacuum, rather than creating any substantial value. He is followed and adored rather for the artificial heroic status attained from what commentators have referred to as the international victim status granted him by the Buhari administration. He was an obscure acolyte that has become raised to a pseudo-zeus.

How does Nnamdi Kanu’s presence at Umueri compare to Nwankwo Kanu’s acts at Atlanta? How much joy has his businesses brought to people of his kindred as Kanu’s Stamford Bridge hat-trick in 1999 did for Nigerians who read about it? People go to Nnamdi’s house for healing; can they make the numbers available so it can be compared with the salvations from the Kanu Heart Foundation?

That Nnamdi Kanu has gained tenancy on a free rent apartment has not automatically made him a luxurious real estate gem. His followers should chill.