Former Presidential candidate Peter Obi has issued a strong warning that the recent conviction and sentencing of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu may intensify existing tensions across Nigeria rather than reduce them.
Obi's Strong Condemnation of Government Approach
In a statement released on November 22, the former Anambra State governor maintained that Nnamdi Kanu should never have been arrested in the first place. Obi characterized the entire process - from arrest through detention to conviction - as representing a fundamental failure of leadership and a clear misunderstanding of the underlying issues.
The prominent political figure argued that the concerns raised by Kanu were neither unprecedented nor impossible to resolve. He emphasized that addressing these matters required only wisdom, empathy, and government willingness to listen and provide solutions.
Missed Opportunities for Dialogue
Obi reiterated his long-standing position that dialogue, constructive engagement, and inclusive governance provide the only sustainable path to lasting peace. He noted that coercion should only become necessary when reason has been completely exhausted, which he believes wasn't the case here.
"In this case, I submit that the reason was not only not exhausted, but was probably not explored at all, or not fully explored," Obi stated in his carefully worded response to the court's decision.
Broader Implications for National Stability
The former governor expressed concern that the government's handling of the Kanu case has deepened public mistrust and created what he called an "avoidable distraction" at a critical moment when citizens are already overwhelmed by harsh economic realities and widespread insecurity.
While acknowledging that some might argue "the law has taken its course," Obi countered that true leadership demands more than mechanical application of legal processes. He pointed to numerous nations worldwide that have successfully employed political solutions, negotiated settlements, and amnesty programs when legal proceedings alone cannot serve broader peace and stability interests.
Obi described the government's approach as resembling "a man trapped in a hole but who, instead of looking for a way out, keeps digging deeper," suggesting the strategy worsens both the government's predicament and the nation's collective condition.
He concluded with a call for the Presidency, Council of State, and credible statesmen to intervene and seek a lasting political solution that prioritizes healing over hostility and reconciliation over retaliation.
