Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has condemned the continuous detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said if elected President, his administration would use dialogue rather than force to engage separatist agitators and other groups with grievances.
Obi was said to have spoken during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington where he argued that Kanu should not be kept in detention over comments he allegedly made on Radio Biafra.
‘No Reason To Hold Kanu’
Obi said criticism of political leaders, such as insults or name-calling, should not be regarded as a criminal offence.
He said that public office holders should be ready to face criticism from citizens and said that arresting people for their comments was not the right way of governance.
“There is no reason to keep Nnamdi Kanu,” he said. There’s no reason at all. He has done nothing wrong, the government has no reason to arrest him for just speaking and calling people names on radio. It doesn’t add up.”
The ex-governor said that members of the public often criticise politicians but that should not result in arrests or detention.
Anybody can say anything to you. “I am a politician and people call me all sorts of names and I don’t think calling me names is an offence,” he added.
Obi stressed that if elected as president in 2027, his administration would give priority to dialogue in handling separatist groups and other aggrieved Nigerians.
It is important for the government to understand the reasons behind agitations and not dismissing those involved, he opined.
“If I am in government today, I will talk with all agitators because I believe that they have a reason for whatever they want to do and it’s only by talking to them that we learn,” he said.
He said the engagement would help the government to identify the roots of grievances and proffer lasting solutions to issues threatening national unity.
On election matters, Obi said: “Except Nigerians decide that their vote will count, it will not count.
Kanu was said to be in the custody of the Federal Government on terrorism charges and his activities as the leader of the IPOB.
His continued detention has been a major issue in the South-East as several political, religious and traditional leaders have repeatedly called for his release.
