Bayelsa West Senator and former Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to initiate a broad national political process that will lead to the release of detained IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, saying only a political solution—not legal action—can end separatist agitations in the South East.
In a detailed statement on Tuesday, Dickson said Nigeria must learn from history, stressing that arrests, trials, convictions, or even executions have never permanently stopped political agitations anywhere in the world.
“The time has come for a political solution”
Dickson aligned with leaders across the South East and other parts of the country who have repeatedly called for dialogue, saying Kanu’s continued detention risks deepening distrust and prolonging instability.
“I call for a political solution that will bring peace, halt violence, and ensure full integration,” he said. “This is not just for the South East but for all Nigerians who desire unity, peace, and justice.”
The senator condemned all forms of violence, both in the South East and in the North, emphasising that victims on all sides deserve justice and national empathy.
Historical lessons: “Legal processes don’t end agitations”
Dickson cited global and Nigerian precedents, from Nelson Mandela to Isaac Adaka Boro, to illustrate how states, after exhausting legal options, often return to political negotiations to achieve lasting peace.
He referenced the Niger Delta peace process under the Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration, which led to the successful Presidential Amnesty Programme.
He also praised former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, who pardoned Boro and later integrated him into the federal forces despite his earlier rebellion.
“This is leadership, vision, and broad-mindedness,” he said.
Tinubu urged to lead national reconciliation
According to Dickson, President Tinubu, who once championed restructuring, has a historic opportunity to address long-standing grievances nationwide.
“The President should begin a peace process that will get Nnamdi Kanu and the tendency he represents to renounce violence. This is a national imperative.”
He stressed that such a move must address historical injustices, systemic imbalances, and political exclusion, which feed separatist sentiments.
“Protect Kanu while legal and political processes last”
Dickson urged security agencies to take utmost care in safeguarding Kanu’s wellbeing.
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“He should be treated humanely, fairly, and safely. Nigeria cannot afford new battlefronts at a time terrorism and banditry are overstretching our security forces.”
Appeal to Igbo youths
Dickson called on Igbo youths to remain calm and engage constructively in political processes that can lead to the restructuring they desire.
Reaching across regions
As Chairman of the South-South Senate Caucus, Dickson said he has begun reaching out to lawmakers in the South East and other regions to support a united national approach.
“I am available for any engagement that can lead to a restructured Nigeria that will work for all.”
With tension rising nationwide over Kanu’s legal battles, Dickson’s intervention adds significant political weight to calls for a negotiated settlement—one he argues is essential for national peace, unity, and long-term stability.