Kanu’s conviction reflects leadership failure — Peter Obi

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has condemned the conviction of Biafra agitator Nnamdi Kanu, describing it as a reflection of leadership failure and a missed opportunity for dialogue.

In a statement on Saturday, Obi pointed out that the development comes at a time when Nigerians are struggling with severe economic hardship, rising insecurity and the consequences of poor governance. Instead of easing national tension, he warned that the conviction “may well only aggravate it.”

On Thursday, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment for terrorism-related offences, convicting him on all seven counts. Specifically, the court handed him life terms on counts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6; 20 years on count 3; and five years on count 7 — with all sentences to run concurrently.

In his reaction, Obi reiterated his long-held position that Kanu should never have been arrested in the first place, arguing that his detention and conviction show a lack of understanding of the issues he raised. According to him, Kanu’s concerns were neither obscure nor impossible to address — they required “wisdom, empathy and a willingness to listen.”

He stressed that constructive engagement, dialogue and inclusive governance remain the only sustainable pathways to resolving national grievances. “Coercion becomes necessary only when reason has been exhausted. In this case, reason was not exhausted — probably not explored at all,” he said.

Obi faulted the government’s approach, saying it deepened mistrust and created an unnecessary distraction at a time when citizens are overwhelmed by economic challenges. While acknowledging that some may argue the law has taken its course, he noted that nations often adopt political solutions, negotiated settlements or amnesty when legal processes alone cannot secure peace.

He likened the government’s handling of Kanu’s case to “a man trapped in a hole who keeps digging deeper,” insisting it worsens both the government’s predicament and the nation’s overall condition.

Calling for calm, peace and reconciliation, Obi urged the Presidency, the Council of State and respected national figures to intervene and pursue a lasting, inclusive solution. He maintained that Nigeria can only move forward by choosing healing over hostility and dialogue over division.