Obi Faults Kanu’s Conviction, Warns it May Aggravate Tension
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has criticised the conviction of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), describing the development as a “failure of leadership” and a misunderstanding of the issues at stake.
In a statement released on his X handle on Saturday, Obi warned that the conviction, coming at a time of severe national distress, might worsen the security situation rather than resolve it.
“The news of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction should compel every well-meaning Nigerian to pause and reflect. This is coming at a time when our beloved nation is facing severe economic hardship, insecurity, and the consequences of poor governance,” Obi wrote.
“Rather than reducing tension, this unfortunate development may well only aggravate it,” he added.
Obi reiterated his long-standing position that the arrest of the separatist leader was a mistake from the onset.
“I have always maintained that Mazi Kanu should never have been arrested. His arrest, detention, and now conviction represent a failure of leadership and a misunderstanding of the issues at stake,” he stated.
The former Anambra governor argued that the grievances raised by Kanu were not unique or insoluble, but required “wisdom, empathy, and a willingness to listen” from the government.
He insisted that coercion should only be a last resort when reason has been exhausted—a threshold he believes was not met in this case.
Obi likened the federal government’s handling of the case to “a man trapped in a hole but who, instead of looking for a way out, keeps digging deeper,” warning that this approach worsens the nation’s collective condition.
He challenged the “strict, mechanical application of the law,” pointing out that nations globally often resort to political solutions, negotiated settlements, and amnesty when legal processes fail to serve the broader interest of stability.
“If we truly desire a new Nigeria – a united, peaceful, and progressive one, our leaders must choose healing over hostility, reconciliation over retaliation, and dialogue over division,” Obi said.
He called on the Presidency, the Council of State, and credible statesmen to intervene and “rise to the occasion” to find a lasting political solution that ensures peace and reconciliation.
