June 13, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel | Politics
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, , has renewed his call for the release of , describing his continued detention as unjustified.
Speaking during an event in , Obi maintained that individuals should not be arrested merely for expressing their opinions or political views.
“I have said this repeatedly, there is no reason for detaining Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. You cannot arrest somebody just because the person is speaking on radio,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra State governor argued that criticism, political disagreement, and name-calling are part of democratic society and should not be treated as criminal offences.
Drawing from his own political experience, Obi said he has been the target of criticism on several occasions but never considered it a crime.
“I am a politician, people have been calling me names, it’s not an offence,” he said.
Obi further advocated dialogue and engagement as the best approach to addressing separatist agitations and political grievances across the country. According to him, governments should prioritize consultation and peaceful discussions with agitators rather than relying solely on force or detention.
He stressed that understanding the concerns of aggrieved groups through engagement could help foster national unity and lead to lasting solutions.
“Even all agitators; if I was in government today, I will discuss with them and engage with them, I will consult them. Because I believe if they have a reason for whatever they want to do, it’s only by engaging them we will learn and see how we can resolve this,” Obi added.
However, the former presidential candidate acknowledged that he currently holds no public office and therefore lacks the authority to implement such measures.
“But I am not in position to do anything today,” he said.
The remarks have once again brought the issue of Nnamdi Kanu’s detention into national discourse, with renewed calls from some political figures and stakeholders for dialogue-based solutions to separatist tensions in Nigeria.
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