Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has warned that the conviction and sentencing of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu will only aggravate tension in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Saturday, November 22, Obi maintained that Kanu should never have been arrested. He argued that the arrest, detention, and now conviction represent a failure of leadership and a misunderstanding of the issues at stake.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said the concerns Kanu raised were not “unheard of” and that the issues for which he demanded solutions were not insoluble.
According to him, they required wisdom, empathy, and a willingness of government to listen and proffer solutions.
He added that the Federal Government’s approach has deepened mistrust and created an avoidable distraction at a time when citizens are overwhelmed by harsh economic realities and insecurity.
“Dialogue, Not Coercion, Offers Path to Peace”
Obi’s statement, titled “Kanu’s Conviction: At a Time Like This,” urged Nigerians to pause and reflect.
“Rather than reducing tension, this unfortunate development may well only aggravate it. 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 said.
Obi stressed 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, I submit that the reason was not only not exhausted, but was probably not explored at all, or not fully explored,” he added.
He argued that grievances raised by Kanu should have been met with dialogue and reforms aimed at strengthening unity. Instead, the government’s approach has worsened mistrust and distracted from urgent national challenges.
Obi noted that while some may insist “the law has taken its course,” leadership often demands more than a strict, mechanical application of the law.
He pointed to examples worldwide where nations resort to political solutions, negotiated settlements, and even amnesty when legal processes alone cannot serve the broader interest of peace and stability.
Call for Healing and Reconciliation
Obi likened the government’s handling of Kanu’s case to “a man trapped in a hole who, instead of looking for a way out, keeps digging deeper.” He said this worsens not only the government’s predicament but also the nation’s collective condition.
“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. Only by addressing grievances with justice, fairness, and compassion can we move towards a future where every Nigerian feels heard, valued, and safe,” Obi stated.
He called on the Presidency, the Council of State, and credible statesmen committed to cohesion and inclusivity to rise to the occasion and pursue a lasting solution.
Obi concluded with optimism: “My ultimate call at this time, without prejudice to how anyone feels about the decision of the court, is for us to be optimistic for peace and reconciliation which will come in the end.”
The conviction of Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has heightened debate over Nigeria’s justice system and whether it selectively applies to different regions of the country.
Some have expressed the fear that without political dialogue, the judgement risks alienating the Southeast region further and escalating national insecurity.
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