NIGERIA: Peter Obi Faults FG Over Kanu’s Conviction

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government over the conviction of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, warning that the development could further heighten tension in the country.

In a statement on Saturday titled “Kanu’s Conviction: At a Time Like This,” Obi said the judgment came at a moment when Nigeria is grappling with severe economic hardship, insecurity, and the widespread effects of poor governance, conditions he believes demand national healing, not actions that may deepen divisions.

Obi said Kanu’s arrest, prolonged detention, and eventual conviction reflect “a failure of leadership and a misunderstanding of the issues at stake,” insisting that the government should have embraced dialogue rather than force.

“I have always maintained that Mazi Kanu should never have been arrested. For years, I have consistently argued that dialogue, constructive engagement, and inclusive governance offer the path to lasting peace. Coercion becomes necessary only when reason has been exhausted. In this case, reason was not exhausted, and perhaps not explored at all,” he stated.

The former Anambra State governor argued that the concerns raised by Kanu were neither new nor impossible to resolve.

According to him, functional societies respond to such grievances through engagement, reforms, and actions that strengthen unity not repression.

He warned that the government’s approach risks worsening mistrust and distracting the nation from pressing issues, particularly at a time when citizens are burdened by economic hardship and widespread insecurity.

“Leadership often demands more than a strict, mechanical application of the law,” Obi said, noting that many countries adopt political solutions, negotiated settlements, or amnesty when legal actions threaten national stability. “Nigeria is not an exception.”

He likened the government’s handling of the matter to “a man trapped in a hole who keeps digging deeper,” saying the approach not only compounds the government’s problem but also harms the nation’s collective wellbeing.

Calling for restraint, reconciliation, and a renewed commitment to national unity, Obi urged the Presidency, the Council of State, and respected national figures to step in and chart a peaceful path forward.

“My ultimate call at this time is for optimism for peace and reconciliation. Those who love this country and desire cohesion must rise to the occasion for a lasting solution,” he said.

Obi reaffirmed that only justice, fairness, and compassionate leadership can guide Nigeria toward a future where all citizens feel valued, heard, and secure.