- Peter Obi rejects the life imprisonment of Nnamdi Kanu, calling it a leadership failure.
- Says concerns raised by the IPOB leader should have been resolved through dialogue, not prosecution.
- Links Kanu’s case to growing insecurity and economic hardship across Nigeria.
- Urges the Presidency and national leaders to intervene and push for peace and reconciliation.
Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has condemned the life sentence handed to Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, describing it as a sign of leadership failure and a missed opportunity for political negotiation.
Obi, in a message posted on his X handle, said Kanu’s arrest, detention, and eventual conviction could have been avoided if the Federal Government had prioritised genuine engagement before opting for prosecution. He noted that the judgment came at a time when Nigerians were already grappling with rising insecurity and a worsening economic situation.
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According to him, the issues raised by the IPOB leader were not impossible to resolve and should have been met with empathy, consultation, and institutional reforms instead of criminal charges. Obi stressed that democratic governments around the world often rely on political settlements when legal measures fail to address internal disputes.
Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021 following his transfer from Kenya, was sentenced this week by the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges. His legal team has long insisted he was subjected to extraordinary rendition, an allegation the government denies.
The designation of IPOB as a terrorist organisation in 2017 and the unrest that followed has continued to unsettle the Southeast. Security officials recently reported encounters with armed groups in rural Anambra, leading to temporary roadblocks and movement disruptions affecting local travel and school activities.
Obi argued that Kanu’s case reflects deeper governance flaws and called on the Presidency, the Council of State, and respected national figures to step in before the situation worsens. He stated that strengthening inclusion, building trust, and promoting national cohesion should be top priorities for the Federal Government.
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He concluded by appealing for calm, reconciliation, and a shift toward dialogue. According to him, a political solution remains the only path capable of restoring peace in the Southeast and preventing further divisions.
“My ultimate call at this time, without prejudice to how anyone feels about the court’s decision, is for us to remain hopeful for peace and reconciliation. The Presidency, the Council of State, and credible statesmen who believe in unity and inclusivity must rise to the occasion,” Obi said.
