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By Anyi Kings
Published on the Biafra Post
March 7, 2026
“In our tradition, a man may earn honour for his father’s name, but careless hands can also stain it.”
Some observers claim that I am being disrespectful whenever I address Mazi Nnamdi Kanu simply as Kanu in some of my write-ups.
Let me make this very clear.
Our leader’s full name is Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. While Nnamdi is his given name, Kanu remains his surname. Historically, many heroes and prominent figures are often addressed by their family names, not necessarily their first names.
This aligns with the Igbo adage: “Onye kpata ego ozaa afa nna ya.”
Meaning: When a man gains honour or success, he answers his father’s name.
This cultural reality explains why the name of our internal leader His Excellency Emeka is rarely mentioned alone; instead, his father’s name Ojukwu has become more widely recognized. Once someone says Ojukwu, everyone immediately understands that reference is being made to our warlord, even though his personal name was Emeka.
Similarly, many people may not immediately recognize the name Raphael, but once you say Uwazurike, there is no need for further explanation that you are referring to the leader of MASSOB, Chief Raphael Uwazurike.
However, when addressing Nnamdi, the leader of IPOB, as Kanu suddenly becomes controversial, then it suggests that something has gone wrong somewhere. A family name should normally be a badge of pride — something people are honoured to be associated with.
The truth is that I use the name Kanu particularly when the subject of discussion relates to the conduct of the wider family, especially when such conduct does not align with the principles of IPOB and the ideals represented by its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In doing so, I am actually giving Mazi Nnamdi Kanu the benefit of the doubt. I choose to believe that he may not necessarily be aligned with the disorderly conduct being displayed by some of his siblings within the IPOB space — until he personally proves otherwise.
Nevertheless, we cannot remain silent about actions that may damage the reputation of the movement. As the saying goes, when a finger is dipped in oil, the oil spreads to the others if it is not washed off.
In the same way, the actions of family members can affect the reputation of the entire household. The siblings of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu are therefore not doing justice to the family name. At this point, Kanu himself must either clearly distance himself from such conduct or risk being seen as complicit in the reputational damage being caused.
Silence, in matters like this, can easily be interpreted as consent.
Anyi Kings
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