Renowned Nigerian journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu’s administration against assuming that silencing Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will bring peace or unity to the nation.
In a post shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Momodu reflected on Kanu’s prolonged detention, stressing that the roots of the Biafra agitation run deeper than one man.
He argued that using punitive measures and forceful suppression would only worsen discontent and alienation in the South-East, urging the federal government to address long-standing historical and political grievances instead.
According to Momodu, the rise of the Biafra movement is a direct result of decades of marginalisation, deprivation, and inequality suffered by the Igbo people. He noted that the frustrations of young people in the region stem from unresolved socio-political injustices and lack of inclusiveness.
Citing one of Nnamdi Kanu’s past broadcasts, Momodu said it captured the intellectual and emotional foundations of the agitation, adding that many of Kanu’s critics often ignore the historical context that shaped his ideology.
He also recalled the devastating effects of the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), which left deep scars across the South-East — scars that continue to influence the renewed calls for self-determination today.
The Ovation publisher insisted that what Nigeria urgently needs is political restructuring, dialogue, and inclusion, not repression. He warned that eliminating or silencing pro-Biafra voices would only escalate the crisis rather than resolve it.
“I will never support violence,” Momodu stated. “But any sensible government will keep the geniuses of the South-East busy with productive engagements instead of hate.”
He emphasized that true leadership requires engaging capable minds from all regions, fostering unity through fairness, and creating an environment where every citizen feels equally represented.
