Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election, has urged President Bola Tinubu to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, and other freedom fighters in like circumstances.
Obi stated that the IPOB leader should not be kept in custody, especially when he has been freed by national courts.
In addition to urging officials to step up their efforts to combat insecurity, the former governor of Anambra State made this plea at a speech to the media on Saturday in Onitsha, the state’s commercial hub.
He warned that if nothing is done, the nation may descend into failure.
Obi, who also spoke on other issues, said, “I don’t see any reason for his (Nnamdi Kanu) continuous detention, especially as the courts have granted him bail. The government must obey the court.
“The rule of law is an intricate asset that we must cherish and live with. I use this opportunity to plead with the Federal Government to ensure that all those who are in similar conditions are released and discussed.
“We are in a democracy, and we should not be doing things that are arbitrary and not within the law.”
He bemoaned the rising levels of insecurity in the nation, warning that if immediate action isn’t taken to improve the situation, Nigeria will eventually collapse.
He said, “The primary work of government is the security of lives and property. It is the foundation on which people can live in any nation because no one can stay in an insecure place.
“It is worrisome what is happening in Nigeria with the news of killings, abductions, and other vices that have made Nigeria one of the most insecure places on earth. In fact, it is leading to a failed nation.
“I commend the government for their efforts so far, but there is a need to do more, and all leaders must come together to join hands and fight this. In the south-east, there is a need for the governors to come together to be able to tackle it.
“Even on the economic agenda, I want to see the South-East governors work closely more. We want to see them come together and also bring together other groups in the zone.”
Obi voiced his disapproval of the current protests in Kenya, stating that any nation would suffer if the government’s property and assets were destroyed.
“I am against riots or the destruction of government assets and property because there are still scarce resources that we are going to use to repair them, but I’m not against peaceful protests.
“Peaceful protest is allowed, but it must be for a reason and not the personal interest of some people to satisfy a particular interest. It must be properly articulated and directed.
“I recall when people said they were protesting police brutality, and I said to them, No, let’s rather deal with the leadership. If we have good leaders, their agents can’t be bad. The problem is leadership. If the leaders are competent, have the capacity, and are doing the right thing, their agents will follow their example.
“I want to use this opportunity to say that all those who are being held because of one protest or another should be released. Whether it is freedom fighters, EndSARS protesters, or even because of freedom of speech, be it journalists, let them all be released immediately.
“We are in a democratic country, and people have the right under the constitution to express themselves freely. They also have the right to peacefully protest, and we must listen to them.
“We must listen to those who say they are not happy; that is why it is a democratic nation. We should stop acting dictatorial and behave as if this is not a democratic country,” he added.
Speaking on whether there are plans for him to join other politicians to form a mega party to oust the All Progressives Congress, Obi said he had no such plans.
He said, “I would rather say that I am more particular about how the poor Nigerians can feed. I will rather talk about things that are affecting Nigerians today. We politicians are preoccupied by elections, and that is not what I am after. I am talking about how we can reduce the price of food.
“Our people are dying of hunger. How do we make life more conducive for the poor Nigerians? How do we make our people earn more money? How do we pull people out of poverty? That should be our concern, not forming a mega party.
“But if forming a mega party is to be able to provide all these things I have illustrated, then I am all for it.
“But if it is for state capture, so that politicians can take power and continue with the consumption that we are seeing today, I will say no. But if it is to move the country to production then I will say yes.”
