Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor, has reacted sharply to the conviction of Nnamdi Kanu, calling it a “failure of leadership” that risks inflaming already fragile national tensions.
In a statement shared across his social media platforms on Saturday, November 22, 2025, Obi warned that the timing of the verdict is particularly concerning given Nigeria’s persistent economic hardship, insecurity, and governance challenges.
Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was convicted on seven counts by the Federal High Court in Abuja, including incitement, leading a banned organisation, and unlawful possession of a radio transmitter used for his Radio Biafra broadcasts.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment on five counts, 20 years on one count, and five years on another.
While legally eligible for the death penalty, the judge, Justice James Omotosho, declined, citing a “Biblical injunction” to show mercy.
The court also placed Kanu under protective custody and barred access to digital devices, citing national security concerns.
The transmitter used for Radio Biafra broadcasts was forfeited to the Federal Government.
Kanu’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the judgment.
Obi argued that Kanu’s arrest, prolonged detention, and eventual conviction could have been avoided through dialogue and inclusive governance.
“The concerns Kanu raised were not unsolvable. What was required was wisdom, empathy, and a willingness to listen,” Obi wrote, emphasizing that coercion should be a last resort, one reportedly not fully explored in this case.
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He cautioned that strict application of the law may not guarantee peace.
Drawing on global examples, Obi noted that political solutions, negotiation, and amnesties are often employed when legal outcomes alone fail to preserve stability and cohesion.
Obi sharply criticized the government’s approach, likening it to a man trapped in a hole who, instead of climbing out, keeps digging, an approach that, he said, only deepens mistrust and compounds the nation’s problems.
He called on the Presidency, the Council of State, and respected statesmen to prioritize reconciliation, dialogue, and national healing.
Concluding on a note of optimism, he urged Nigerians to look beyond the verdict and focus on unity, peace, and building an inclusive future.