JUST IN; Peter Obi finally breaks silence as Fed High Court sentences Kanu to Life imprisonment

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described the conviction of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as an “unfortunate” development that underscores deeper leadership failures in the country.

Kanu was on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, after being found guilty of terrorism-related charges.

Reacting in a statement on his verified X handle, Obi said the judgement should prompt serious national reflection at a time when Nigerians are already burdened by economic hardship, insecurity, and widespread discontent with governance.

Obi maintained that his long-standing view is that Kanu should not have been arrested, insisting that the Federal Government mishandled the matter from the very beginning. He argued that the cycle of arrest, prolonged detention, and eventual conviction illustrates “a failure of leadership and a misunderstanding of the issues at stake.”

He stressed that the concerns raised by Kanu were neither new nor impossible to resolve, adding that a responsible government should have prioritised dialogue, empathy, and inclusive governance.

“The concerns Kanu raised were not unheard of. They required wisdom, empathy, and a willingness to listen. In functional societies, such grievances are met with dialogue and reforms aimed at strengthening unity,” Obi stated.

The former governor warned that the conviction could inflame tensions across the country rather than ease them, particularly at a time when many citizens are struggling under harsh economic conditions.

Obi faulted the government’s reliance on a hardline, security-driven approach, noting that many nations confronted with similar internal disputes often choose political solutions, negotiated settlements, or amnesty when courts alone cannot guarantee lasting peace.

He called for a more thoughtful, reconciliatory strategy to prevent the situation from further deepening national divisions.

He wrote: “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.

“For years, I have consistently argued that dialogue, constructive engagement, and inclusive governance offer the path to lasting peace. 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.

“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.

“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.

“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. I am also saying, thereby, that the Presidency, the Council of State and credible statesmen who love this country and who are interested in cohesion and inclusivity, should rise to the occasion, for a lasting solution.”