By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide has strongly flayed the conviction and sentencing of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB.
The Source reports that Kanu was on Thursday November 20, 2025. handed down a life sentence by a Federal High Court Abuja presided over by Justice James Omotosho.
The verdict climaxed years of Federal Government’s prosecution of the IPOB leader on a seven count charge bordering on terrorism and other related issues.
He was found guilty of all the seven charges preferred against him, four of which carry death penalties. He was, however, sentenced to life in jail in place of death sentence.
The Apex Socio-cultural Organization of the Igbo, however, in a statement from its spokesperson, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, on Friday November 21, 2025 while condemning the judgment, also described it as “deeply troubling and potentially capable of unsettling the peace and stability of the Country.”
The statement quoted the President General, Senator Azuta Mbata, as expressing the serious disappointment and concern of the entire Igbo nation in the Court’s decision, noting that the development has also provoked widespread concern over what not a few have come to perceive to be a pattern of discriminatory treatment in Kanu’s case .
“Beyond the legal questions, the Igbo nation is deeply troubled by the pattern of harsh treatment meted out in this case which many perceive as reflective of ethnic bias.
“This perception erodes trust in national institutions and touches directly on the dignity and integrity of the Igbo People”, the Ohaneze Ndigbo stated.
This is as the body expressed serious concern that the fate of the IPOB leader is bound to exacerbate the precarious security situation in the South East region.
According to the Ohaneze Ndigbo, the continued incarceration of Kanu has been a major driver and enabler of agitations, violence and killings in the region in the last few years.
Ohaneze, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu to consider the urgent exploration of political options to resolving the situation in the overall interest of national unity, peace and stability.
According to it, resorting solely to the application of force will never yield any meaningful results in the present circumstances.
Rather, the umbrella body of the Igbo nation, insisted that high handed approach will only deepen instability and restlessness in the South East region.
The body further emphasized the need for the pursuit of justice, fairness and equity by the authorities, insisting that sensitivity and inclusiveness can preserve the unity we all desire in the country.
“His (Kanu’s) incarceration has become a flashpoint for unrest, frustration and radicalization. Continued hardline responses will only deepen instability.
” In the interest of national unity, peace and equity, we urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to adopt a political solution.
” Dialogue, not maximum punishment, offers the best path toward healing longstanding grievances, restoring calm in the South East and advancing true national reconciliation”, the Igbo Organization added.
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