The 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reiterated his opposition to any form of illegality or violence linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or similar groups.
However, he maintained that engagement through dialogue remains the most effective path to lasting peace.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Monday, the 63-year-old clarified that he condemns wrongdoing wherever it occurs in the country—be it in the East, West, or South.
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Mr Obi argued that agitations are a normal expression within any democratic society.
According to him, the proper way to address such unrest is through open and honest conversation, not repression.
Responding to criticism that he appears soft on IPOB, Mr Obi rejected the claim, saying his consistent position has been to seek unity and stability through peaceful engagement.
He warned that treating dissent as a crime or responding with brute force only exacerbates national disunity.
“I apply the same standards across the board. Throughout the campaign and even now, I have insisted that I am willing to engage any group—be it a regional or ideological movement. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with agitation.
“In fact, we experience it in our homes. My children sometimes object to decisions, and we talk it through. That’s how it should be in a society—dialogue first, always”, he said.
“What we’ve done, unfortunately, is embrace extremism and mistake aggression for strength. But that approach only damages the system. Today, exhibiting good values is seen as a weakness, and acting violently is mistaken for courage. That’s not leadership.”
The former governor of Anambra State also commented on the recent political tensions in Rivers State.
He said Nigeria continues to show signs of democratic regression and criticised the federal government’s response, especially the consideration of a state of emergency, as a fundamental violation of democratic norms.
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“You can’t claim to operate within a democracy while abandoning the rule of law. There are procedures that must be followed. No issue, however complex, should be resolved through unconstitutional means,” he stated.
Mr Obi emphasised that political disagreements, no matter how intense, must be managed through legal and democratic institutions, not through force or authoritarian intervention.
