By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has hailed the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi for calling for the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Obi had in an interview with Channels Television stated that there is no justification for the continued detention of Kanu.

According to IPOB, Obi’s remarks are not only timely, but also reflect a voice of reason and restraint amidst the deafening silence and cowardice of many political actors, particularly from the South-East, who have chosen self-preservation and political correctness over truth and justice.

A statement by IPOB media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, said that though Kanu has on many occasions in the past, criticised Peter Obi in very strong and unfiltered terms—consistent with his principled stance against Nigeria’s political establishment—it is worth acknowledging that Mr. Obi never responded in kind.

The statement partly reads: "Obi has instead consistently maintained a dignified silence, refusing to allow personal attacks to cloud his sense of justice or moral duty.

"Indeed, we recall with appreciation that Mr. Obi was among the few prominent politicians who defied fear and political pressure to attend the funeral of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s parents in Afaraukwu Ibeku. At a time when the Nigerian military was harassing mourners and many high-profile individuals shamefully stayed away, Peter Obi’s quiet presence was a rare demonstration of empathy and courage.

"IPOB wishes to state clearly that while we are not part of Nigeria’s political system and do not seek validation from it, we recognise sincere gestures when they are made. Mr. Peter Obi’s call is not only a personal expression of conscience but a tacit acknowledgment of the glaring illegality and injustice that underpins the continued detention and persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

"Let it be made abundantly clear, this matter is now before the Federal High Court under His Lordship, Justice James Omotosho, where all evidence, testimonies, and failed attempts by the Nigerian state to manufacture a case against our leader have been laid bare.

"Since 2015, the Nigerian government has amended its charges against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu no fewer than nine times, in what can only be described as a desperate, trial-and-error persecution.

"In 2021, the government abandoned even the façade of legality by criminally abducting our leader from Kenya in violation of international law, Kenya’s Constitution, Nigeria’s Extradition Act, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

"Former Governor Peter Obi has recognized—correctly—that Nigeria has nothing to gain and everything to lose by continuing this illegal detention. His call for a political and legal resolution is not only in line with global best practices, it is an effort to save Nigeria from deeper moral and reputational bankruptcy."

While reiterating its leadership position, the group maintained its belief in the rule of law, saying that it has consistently submitted to judicial processes.

It urged Justice Omotosho to rise above political pressure and deliver judgment based solely on the facts and law before him, even as it also called on all people of good conscience—within and outside Nigeria to support the call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

It added: "To those who continue to fuel this unjust persecution—driven by ethnic hatred, ignorance, or foreign allegiance—we remind them that truth is resilient, and justice, though delayed, will ultimately prevail.

"Let it be known that Mr. Peter Obi has by his statement, shown that common sense, integrity, and moral clarity still exist in Nigeria’s suffocating political space. It is now up to others, especially those from the South-East, to find the courage to do what is right—not what is convenient."