The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi has blamed the arrest, detention and conviction of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on the failure of leadership.
Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday after convicting him on seven count charges bordering on terrorism.
In a post on his x handle on Sunday, Mr Obi said rather than reducing the tension in the country, the unfortunate development may well aggravate it.
According to him, “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.”
He said for years, he has consistently argued that dialogue, constructive engagement, and inclusive governance offer the path to lasting peace, adding that 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,” Obi noted.
He said 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.
The businessman cum politician said 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,” he said.
Mr Obi said “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.”
He urged the Presidency, the Council of State and credible statesmen who love the country and who are interested in cohesion and inclusivity, to rise to the occasion, for a lasting solution.
