Peter Obi slams FG over Kanu’s conviction, warns tensions may rise

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has spoken out for the first time on the conviction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader,  Nnamdi Kanu, describing the court’s decision as “unfortunate” and a reflection of failed leadership.

Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Reacting in a statement shared on his verified X handle, Obi said the development should prompt Nigerians to reflect deeply, especially at a period marked by severe economic hardship, rising insecurity, and the consequences of poor governance.

Obi restated his long-standing view that Kanu ought not to have been arrested initially, insisting that the federal government mishandled the issue from the beginning.

According to him, Kanu’s arrest, long detention, and eventual conviction amount to “a failure of leadership and a misunderstanding of the issues at stake.” He maintained that the concerns raised by the IPOB leader were not insurmountable and should have been met with dialogue, empathy, and inclusive governance.

“The concerns Kanu raised were not unheard of,” Obi wrote. “They required wisdom, empathy, and a willingness to listen. In functional societies, such grievances are met with dialogue and reforms aimed at strengthening unity.”

He warned that the conviction could deepen national tensions at a time when citizens are already burdened by economic difficulties.

Obi faulted the government’s hardline stance, noting that many nations resort to political solutions, negotiated settlements, or even amnesty when judicial processes alone cannot guarantee peace.

He wrote: “The news of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction should compel every well-meaning Nigerian to pause and reflect. This is coming at a time when our beloved nation is facing severe economic hardship, insecurity, and the consequences of poor governance.

“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.

“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, I submit that the reason was not only not exhausted, but was probably not explored at all, or not fully explored.

“The concerns Kanu raised were not unheard of. The issues for which he demanded solutions were not insoluble. It only required wisdom, empathy, and a willingness to listen. In any functional society, such grievances are met with dialogue and reforms aimed at strengthening unity.

“The government’s approach has only deepened mistrust and created an avoidable distraction at a time when citizens are overwhelmed by harsh economic realities and insecurity.

“While some may insist that the law has taken its course, leadership often demands more than a strict, mechanical application of the law. Nations around the world resort to political solutions, negotiated settlements, and even amnesty when legal processes alone cannot serve the broader interest of peace and stability. Nigeria is not an exception.

“The handling of Kanu’s case mirrors the government as a man trapped in a hole but who, instead of looking for a way out, keeps digging deeper. It 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.

“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. I am also saying, thereby, that the Presidency, the Council of State and credible statesmen who love this country and who are interested in cohesion and inclusivity, should rise to the occasion, for a lasting solution.”