Presidential hopeful Peter Obi has criticised the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), describing it as unjustifiable and senseless.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s *Sunday Politics*, Obi questioned the rationale behind Kanu’s prolonged incarceration, stating that he would pursue a political solution not only for the IPOB leader but also for similar cases across the country.
“For every one of them, I mean, why is he still being held? It does not make sense to me,” Obi said in response to whether he would advocate for a political resolution in Kanu’s case.
He added, “Some people said because he used vulgar words and everything. I’ve not seen it. They said he’s using vulgar words. But it doesn’t bother me if I’m president whether you call me thief or idiot, which they call me today. It doesn’t bother me. My duty as a leader is for the common man to put food on their table.”
Obi also affirmed that he would adopt a uniform approach to such issues across the country. He emphasised the need for dialogue where necessary, while maintaining a firm stance against insecurity.
“If there are people I can talk to, I’ll talk to them… let’s say tomorrow we have a bandit operating in the North East, I’ll meet with him. But that is just to establish a link to say enough is enough. And afterwards, I’ll deal with it decisively,” he stated.
Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has remained vocal on national issues, positioning himself as a candidate focused on justice, inclusivity, and practical solutions ahead of the 2027 elections.
