Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction may aggravate tension in south-east, says Obi

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), says the recent conviction of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), could escalate tensions in Nigeria’s south-east region.

Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment following his conviction for terrorism.

In a post on X, Obi described Kanu’s arrest, detention, and conviction as a failure of leadership and warned that it risks deepening divisions amid the country’s ongoing economic hardship and insecurity.

Obi said Kanu’s detention was unnecessary and that the government should have prioritised dialogue, constructive engagement, and inclusive governance over coercion.

“The concerns Kanu raised were not unheard of, and the issues he demanded solutions for were not insoluble,” Obi said.

He said addressing such grievances require wisdom, empathy, and a willingness to listen — qualities he believes were absent in the government’s approach.

The former Anambra governor cautioned that the government’s handling of the case has only heightened mistrust and distracted Nigerians from pressing challenges.

While acknowledging that “the law has taken its course”, Obi urged leaders to look beyond strict legalism.

He cited examples from other countries where political solutions, negotiated settlements, and amnesty have been deployed to promote peace and stability when legal processes alone were insufficient.

Obi likened the government’s stance to “a man trapped in a hole who, instead of looking for a way out, keeps digging deeper”, worsening both its predicament and the nation’s collective condition.

He called on the presidency, the council of state, and respected statesmen to pursue reconciliation and inclusivity.

“If we truly desire a new Nigeria — united, peaceful, and progressive — our leaders must choose healing over hostility, reconciliation over retaliation, and dialogue over division,” he added.