A former Governor of Anambra State and the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has warned that the conviction of Nnamdi Kanu could worsen national tensions in the country.
Obi made the statement in a post on his official X account on Saturday, days after the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted and sentenced Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
According to Obi, the government’s approach overlooked the underlying grievances and missed a critical opportunity for dialogue that could have reduced tension.
Obi argued that Kanu’s arrest, detention, and subsequent conviction represent a missed opportunity to address legitimate concerns through constructive engagement.
“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,” Obi’s post read in part.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate emphasized that the grievances raised by Kanu were not insurmountable and could have been resolved through wisdom, empathy, and a willingness to listen.
Obi called on the Presidency, the Council of State, and credible statesmen to pursue reconciliation and inclusive governance, urging leaders to prioritize healing over hostility and dialogue over division.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday convicted and sentenced Nnamdi Kanu for terrorism, following his role in issuing “sit-at-home” orders that disrupted banks, schools, and economic activities across the Southeast, particularly on Mondays. The court described these actions as “terrorist acts against Nigeria.”
Kanu was convicted on multiple counts: terrorism, sit-at-home directives that shut down banks and schools, leadership of a proscribed organization, and incitement of terrorism and attacks on state institutions.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism, 20 years for the sit-at-home directive, and additional convictions for the other offences. The court also ordered that Kanu be held in a protective custody facility and restricted his access to digital devices except under the supervision of the office of the National Security Adviser.