…Says He Was Sharing Bread To The Hungry, Not Campaigning For IPOB
…Nothing Absolutely Wrong With Fighting For Freedom, Shan George Defends Agu
…AGN, Nigerians React
Nollywood actor, Chinwetalu Agu, has denied campaigning for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
He made this known after he was released by the Nigerian Army on Friday.
The actor was arrested by soldiers in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Wednesday.
He was dressed in a Biafra attire at the time of his arrest.
In a trending video, the actor was seen seated on the floor, explaining that the outfit that he wore did not show that he was promoting the cause of IPOB or ESN.
He said, “I can wear this,” he said pointing to his outfit.
“This is rising sun, not Biafran, not Eastern Security Network, Do you understand? With my education, I know areas to go and areas not to go. It’s better for you to be videoing all this. Let’s listen to the facts and know how to react to the facts. This is a civil dress!
“I was buying bread, ten thousand naira worth of bread! And sharing it one by one, no campaign, no nothing, when they came, nobody was doing demonstration or carrying placard. People who were hungry, I was giving them bread. Is it wrong to feed people?”
There has been mixed reaction to his arrest. While some accused him of boosting the morale of IPOB which is on an offensive in the South East, others said he had the right to be dressed in such manner.
The army authorities have denied that the actor was manhandled.
In the same vein, the Actors Guild of Nigeria has reacted to the arrest of veteran actor, Chiwetalu Agu.
Reacting, President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, in an interview with newsmen, condemned the fact that Agu was seen wearing a Biafra regalia.
He noted that considering high rate of insecurity in the country and knowing how hot the state is currently, Agu should have avoided being seen in such clothing.
“I don’t know why he put on Biafra regalia. The State is hot and he knows this.
“We are in talk with the military officials to ensure he is released. We will do our best.
“I heard they have taken him to 82 Division of the Nigeria Military base,” he said.
Also, Nollywood actress, Shan George has reacted to a video of Chinwetalu Agu denying that the outfit he was wearing when he was arrested is the Biafran flag.
Reacting, Shan George, in a post via her Instagram account, urged the actor to own up to his fight for freedom.
She noted that there was nothing absolutely wrong with fighting for freedom adding that Nigeria once fought to be freed from the British colonialists.
”My dear brother, you are clearly wearing a Biafra flag and you should own it with your full chest.
”I don’t get all the rising sun English you are speaking. I personally see nothing wrong in certain people fighting for their freedom.
”Nigeria fought for theirs from the British before 1960. Scotland and the rest fought for theirs too, at least you were not carrying any arms, fighting for freedom peacefully shouldn’t be a crime, own your fight with your full chest,” she wrote.
In addition, Human rights lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong, in a statement, said the arrest of the actor was “illegal, unconscionable and unwarranted. The actor has not committed any criminal offence known to law.”
Effiong said the military has no power in a constitutional democracy to arrest citizens except in very special and exceptional circumstances like during war, state of emergency, insurrection or riot.
“Supposing without conceding that the dressing of the legendary actor amounts to “incitement” as claimed by the Army, it is the Nigeria Police Force that should have responded. There is no evidence of incitement against him. Nothing was inscribed on the said cloth to incite the public,” he said, adding that the Army should apologise to the actor and pay him adequate compensation for “public humiliation”.
A Facebook user, Peter Udonsek, also described the arrest of Agu as “heartbreaking”. He lamented the “double standards” of the Army, saying the military has not deemed it fit to arrest controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, who has been seen hobnobbing freely with murderous bandits.
Similarly, Activist Deji Adeyanju flayed the Army over Agu’s arrest. “The same army that organise Repentance Red Carpet ceremony for Boko Haram terrorists,” he threw a mocking jab at the military.
Olayomi Koiki, Spokesman for embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, also condemned the arrest of the actor in a Facebook post. “When is it a crime for someone to wear a cloth made with Biafran colours?” he queried. (The Pledge)
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