Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has described the arrest, detention, and conviction of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as a “failure of leadership and a misunderstanding of the issues at stake.”
Obi made the remarks in a statement posted on his official X handle on Saturday, following the Federal High Court’s judgment that sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on terrorism charges.
“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,” Obi declared, stressing that the government’s approach has only deepened mistrust and created avoidable distractions at a time of economic hardship and insecurity.
The former Anambra State governor argued that dialogue, constructive engagement, and inclusive governance remain the most effective path to lasting peace. He criticised the reliance on coercion, saying the grievances raised by Kanu were neither unheard of nor insoluble, but required wisdom, empathy, and a willingness to listen.
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Obi warned that strict reliance on legal processes without political solutions risks worsening national divisions. “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,” he said.
He likened the government’s handling of Kanu’s case to “a man trapped in a hole who, instead of looking for a way out, keeps digging deeper,” adding that the situation has worsened both the government’s predicament and the nation’s collective condition.
Obi urged leaders to embrace reconciliation over retaliation and dialogue over division, insisting that grievances must be addressed with justice, fairness, and compassion. He called on the Presidency, the Council of State, and credible statesmen to rise to the occasion and pursue a lasting political solution.
“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,” Obi concluded.