Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has warned that the conviction of the Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, could worsen the security tension in Nigeria. He recently revealed that the life imprisonment judgment will only increase national tension instead of easing it.
In a press statement posted on his X account, Obi said that Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction should force citizens to reflect deeply, especially now that the nation is battling economic hardship and escalating insecurity.
According to him, the fact is that Kanu’s arrest and detention were avoidable, and the entire episode has been further proof of a leadership failure.
He stated that the grievances Kanu raised are not new or impossible to resolve; therefore, wisdom and empathy were required to maintain peace and harmony.
“Coercion becomes necessary only when reason has been exhausted. In this case, reason was not fully explored, if at all,” he wrote.
Obi then urged the Presidency, the Council of State and respected statesmen to intervene and work towards sustainable peace across Nigeria.
He concluded by stressing the need for reconciliation over retaliation, emphasizing that peace would eventually prevail if Nigeria embraces justice, fairness and compassion.
