The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has criticised the conviction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, warning that the decision risks heightening tensions across the country.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Saturday, the former Anambra State governor said the arrest, detention, and eventual conviction of Kanu reflected a failure of leadership and a fundamental misreading of the issues at stake.
Obi argued that the ruling comes at a particularly fragile moment, with Nigeria struggling under severe economic hardship, widespread insecurity, and the effects of years of poor governance.
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He said the government’s handling of the matter only creates an unnecessary distraction at a time when citizens are already battling harsh realities.
“The news of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction should compel every well-meaning Nigerian to pause and reflect,” Obi said. “Rather than reducing tension, this unfortunate development may well aggravate it.”
Reaffirming his long-held position, he maintained that Kanu should never have been arrested, insisting that the issues raised by the IPOB leader were neither unique nor unsolvable, and required “wisdom, empathy, and a willingness to listen” rather than force.
“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 stressed that in any functional society, grievances are addressed through dialogue and reforms aimed at strengthening national unity, not through a “strict, mechanical application of the law.”
Using a vivid metaphor, Obi said the government’s approach resembles “a man trapped in a hole who, instead of finding a way out, keeps digging deeper”, thereby worsening both its own predicament and the country’s collective condition.
He noted that nations around the world often employ political solutions, negotiated settlements, and amnesty when strict legal processes fail to advance broader goals of peace and stability, adding that “Nigeria is not an exception.”
Despite the court’s verdict, Obi urged the highest levels of government to intervene in the interest of national cohesion.
He called on the Presidency, the Council of State, and respected statesmen to step forward and pursue a political solution that prioritises healing over hostility.
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“If we truly desire a new Nigeria—united, peaceful, and progressive—our leaders must choose healing over hostility, reconciliation over retaliation, and dialogue over division,” he said.
“Only by addressing grievances with justice, fairness, and compassion can we move towards a future where every Nigerian feels heard, valued, and safe.”
