Peter Obi has renewed his call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, arguing that no one should be imprisoned for expressing views on radio and pledging dialogue with agitators if elected president.
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has again questioned the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), insisting there is no justification for keeping him behind bars.
According to a report by TheCable, Obi made the remarks during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington DC, United States, where he addressed issues of governance, national unity and agitation across the country.
The former Anambra State governor maintained that Kanu should not be incarcerated over comments made during radio broadcasts, arguing that freedom of expression should not attract imprisonment.
“I have said this repeatedly, there is no reason for keeping (in prison) Nnamdi Kanu. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no reason whatsoever,” Obi said.
The NDC presidential candidate noted that politicians are often subjected to criticism and verbal attacks, stressing that such comments should not be criminalised.
“You cannot arrest somebody because he was speaking on radio and calling people names. It doesn’t make sense. Anybody can tell you anything. I’m a politician. People call me all sorts of names,” he stated.
Obi also outlined how he would approach separatist agitations and other grievances if elected president, saying dialogue would take precedence over confrontation.
According to him, meaningful engagement remains the best way to address concerns raised by groups and individuals who feel marginalised or dissatisfied with the system.
The former governor said his administration would seek to understand the root causes of agitations across the country and work towards peaceful resolutions.
His comments are expected to reignite debate over Kanu’s detention, a matter that has remained a sensitive political and legal issue in Nigeria for years.
Kanu, who leads IPOB, is currently facing charges filed by the Federal Government, while supporters have continued to demand his release through political and legal channels.
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