The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has sparked fresh debate after declaring that he would release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, if elected President of Nigeria.
In a viral video recorded during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington, the former Anambra State governor argued that Kanu should not be detained over comments he made on Radio Biafra, insisting that criticism and insults directed at public officials do not constitute a criminal offence.
“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 said.
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Drawing from his experience as a politician, Obi maintained that public figures are often subjected to harsh criticism and name-calling.
“Anybody can tell you anything. I’m a politician, and people call me all sorts of names. I don’t think calling me names is an offence. It’s not an offence,” he added.
Obi also pledged to adopt dialogue rather than force in addressing separatist agitations and other grievances across the country.
“If I am in government today, I will discuss with all agitators because I believe they have reasons for whatever they want to do. It is only by engaging them that we can understand their concerns. But I’m not in a position to do anything today,” he said.
The remarks, which have continued to generate reactions online, are likely to reignite national conversations around Kanu’s detention, the handling of separatist movements, and the balance between national security and civil liberties in Nigeria.
