Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra state, has advised the federal government to change its “hardline posture and yield to the persistent clamour” for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Speaking with journalists on Thursday, Obi said the federal government ought to engage the Biafra activists in dialogue as that is the only means agitation could be solved.
He condemned the use of force against the Biafra agitators.
Obi said the government should realise and acknowledge that the agitators, like other citizens, have their fundamental rights of freedom of expression.
“I wish to appeal to the federal government to change its hardline posture on this issue and yield to the persistent clamour for the release of Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafra activists so as to douse the tension in the country, especially in the South-East and south-south geo-political zones,” he said.
“The federal government should engage them in dialogue. Every agitation in the world is resolved through dialogue and not by means of force
“To the best of my knowledge, the agitation for Biafra is not violent and does not violate either the Nigerian constitution or international laws. I, therefore, condemn the use of force against the agitators.”
He criticised the government for failing to release the detainees after they had been granted bail.
“The fact that they had been granted bails that were not obeyed makes it even more pertinent to set them free now,” he said.
“We are in a democratic regime and it is important that the rule of law should be obeyed no matter whose case is involved.”
