The Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria has signaled a willingness to negotiate the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), according to Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi. Speaking to the press in Lagos on July 4, 2025, Umahi underlined that although the government is ready to talk over Kanu’s release, it should not be used as a political bargaining chip or prerequisite for any political support, especially from the Southeast area.
Umahi reiterated that the present government under President Bola Tinubu was not responsible for Kanu’s detention. He highlighted that the government’s openness to negotiate does not equal yielding to political demands or pressures. "We are willing to negotiate his release, but no one should make it a condition because the President did not put him there," Umahi remarked.
This stance is crucial given the current political debate over Kanu’s arrest, with some reports indicating that the Southeast region would use his release as a condition for supporting President Tinubu’s campaign for a second term in the 2027 presidential election. Umahi denied such assertions, saying that the Southeast remains supportive of Tinubu and would back his re-election campaign without preconditions related to Kanu’s case.
Nnamdi Kanu, a famous separatist activist pushing for Biafran independence, was rearrested in Kenya in 2021 and then hauled back to Nigeria to stand prosecution. His arrest was contentious, with early accusations involving Interpol, which was subsequently refuted. Instead, Kenyan police allegedly carried out the arrest. Since then, Kanu has been arrested and facing trial, which has witnessed events like the approval of his appeal for a new judge.
The Southeast leaders have consistently called on the FG to address Kanu’s situation via political discussion rather than extended imprisonment or legal proceedings. The government’s willingness to negotiate, as indicated by Umahi, shows a possible change toward settling the problem via conversation rather than confrontation.
Umahi, a former two-term governor of Ebonyi State and a significant player in the Southeast complimented President Tinubu’s leadership, characterizing him as a listening leader who has done more for the Southeast than past administrations. He denied any notion of marginalization of the area under Tinubu’s administration, stressing that the Southeast is unified in its support for the president’s 2027 re-election.
The minister’s words try to soothe tensions and disinformation, notably claims that Kanu’s release is being exploited as political leverage. He stressed that although the administration is open to conversations, such discussions should not be politicized or related to electoral support.
In the background of the current trial and political disputes, Kanu’s family has also been involved in countering falsehoods. They refuted accusations that Kanu confessed to encouraging violence against security officials, calling such assertions as misrepresentations of court processes. The family has urged for truthful reporting and advised against misleading headlines that misrepresent the reality of Kanu’s legal status.
The FG’s readiness to negotiate Kanu’s release signals a crucial shift in Nigeria’s handling of the IPOB crisis and the larger fight for peace and stability in the Southeast. Minister Umahi’s words underline a preference for discussion and amicable solutions over political conflict or judicial impasse.
As the 2027 elections are near, the government’s attitude may help reduce regional tensions and build a more inclusive political atmosphere. However, the success of any discussion will rely on the willingness of all sides to participate constructively and respect the rule of law.
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