The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has commented on the life imprisonment sentence given to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Kanu was convicted on Thursday by the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice James Omotosho found him guilty on all seven terrorism-related charges and ordered that he be held in a protected custodial facility instead of the Kuje Correctional Centre.
In a statement released on Saturday through his 𝕏 handle, Obi said the judgment came at a time when Nigerians were already struggling with economic hardship, insecurity, and the effects of poor governance. He stressed that he had always opposed Kanu’s arrest and maintained that dialogue and inclusive governance were the best ways to resolve the issues Kanu raised.
According to him, Kanu’s arrest, detention, and conviction highlight a failure of leadership. Obi argued that the concerns raised by Kanu were not impossible to address and should have been met with understanding, empathy, and meaningful engagement.
He stated, “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.”
Obi added that the government’s approach had deepened mistrust at a time when Nigerians were already overwhelmed by economic pressures and insecurity. While he acknowledged that some people may say the law has taken its course, he insisted that true leadership often goes beyond strict legal actions. He pointed out that many countries use political solutions, negotiated settlements or amnesty when legal processes cannot secure national stability.
He further described the handling of the case as a situation where “a man trapped in a hole keeps digging deeper,” saying it has worsened both the government’s challenges and the country’s overall condition.
Obi urged leaders to embrace reconciliation, fairness, and dialogue if Nigeria truly wants unity and progress. He encouraged citizens to remain hopeful for peace and called on the Presidency, the Council of State, and respected national figures to step in and work toward a lasting solution.
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