Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged to secure the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, if elected President of Nigeria.
Obi made the promise while addressing Nigerians during an engagement in Washington, where he spoke on issues relating to national unity, security, and the government’s response to separatist agitations across the country.
The former governor of Anambra State argued that Kanu’s continued detention was unjustified. According to him, the IPOB leader should not be imprisoned for expressing his opinions or making comments on radio programmes.
“There’s no reason for keeping Nnamdi Kanu. I will free Nnamdi Kanu as President. He has done nothing wrong. The government has no reason to arrest him because he was speaking and calling people names on radio. It doesn’t make sense,” Obi stated during the engagement.
Obi further maintained that criticism and name-calling are common features of politics and should not be treated as criminal offences. He noted that public figures are often subjected to criticism and insults without resorting to legal action against their critics.
The NDC presidential candidate also advocated dialogue as a means of addressing grievances and agitations in different parts of the country. He said meaningful engagement with agitating groups would help government understand their concerns and find lasting solutions to national challenges.
Kanu, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, remains at the centre of legal and political debates over separatist activities in Nigeria’s South-East region. His detention has continued to attract mixed reactions, with some groups demanding his release while others insist that the legal process should be allowed to run its course.