Earlier today in Abuja, human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore met with former President Goodluck Jonathan to discuss the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Sowore shared news of the meeting in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that Jonathan agreed there was an urgent and compelling need to resolve the matter decisively and justly. According to Sowore, Jonathan recognized the importance of settling Kanu’s case in the interest of peace, fairness, and national healing, and even promised to meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu soon to discuss the issue. Sowore expressed gratitude to the former president for joining the growing list of national figures calling for Kanu’s release, a list that already includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), Senator Shehu Sani, and several others across Nigeria’s political and regional divides.
Sowore described Nnamdi Kanu’s continued incarceration as a symbol of injustice and marginalization. He emphasized that Kanu took up a just cause in confronting the long-standing issue of marginalization in Nigeria, and insisted that like other regional activists whose politically motivated cases have been dismissed, Kanu too should be released without delay. He further appealed to political, cultural, ethnic, and religious leaders across Nigeria, especially those from the South East, to lend their voices to the campaign for justice and freedom. Sowore mentioned notable figures such as Peter Obi, Chukwuma Soludo, Alex Otti, Francis Nwifuru, Peter Mbah, Hope Uzodinma, and Oby Ezekwesili, urging them to join in demanding Kanu’s freedom.
This latest development did not happen in isolation. Sowore has been one of the most vocal advocates for Kanu’s release and has repeatedly criticized both the Buhari and Tinubu administrations for what he calls political persecution masked as legal process. Earlier this month, he announced plans to lead a peaceful march in Abuja on October 20 under the banner #FreeNnamdiKanuNow. The planned protest, according to Sowore, will be a peaceful demonstration demanding that the government obey court orders that have repeatedly called for Kanu’s release. Sowore has framed the rally as a test of Nigeria’s democratic maturity, declaring that peaceful mobilization is a constitutional right and that the continued detention of Kanu defies both logic and law.
His earlier statements, which he shared through various platforms including Sahara Reporters and his verified X account, show a consistent pattern of engagement. Days before today’s meeting with Jonathan, Sowore had called out leaders of the South East for what he saw as their silence and inaction. He argued that those who claim to care about the Igbo cause must demonstrate it by participating in the struggle for Kanu’s release rather than offering empty rhetoric. He directly tagged Peter Obi, Soludo, Otti, and other southeastern figures, urging them to rise above politics and show moral courage. He also announced that he had written to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, to join the peaceful protest. His words carried both urgency and defiance, reflecting his belief that true change comes through sustained public pressure, not quiet diplomacy.
Sowore’s stance has attracted both support and criticism. Many human rights advocates and civic organizations, including the Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), have endorsed his call for peaceful mobilization, describing it as a timely intervention. FENRAD praised Sowore’s courage and reiterated that Kanu’s continued detention violates multiple court rulings. Similarly, Atiku Abubakar recently issued a statement urging the government to either release Kanu or ensure he is tried fairly, describing his indefinite detention as an open wound on Nigeria’s conscience. However, the presidency, through spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, accused Sowore of trying to destabilize the country and dismissed the planned protest as a “needless agitation.” Onanuga insisted that Kanu’s trial must run its course and that street protests could compromise national security. The statement drew condemnation from civil society groups who said that the government’s position exposed its intolerance for dissent and lack of respect for court orders.
Sowore’s meeting with Jonathan adds a new dimension to the campaign, bridging activism and diplomacy. For years, Sowore has relied on the power of protest and public outrage to challenge state authority, but his engagement with Jonathan signals a willingness to explore dialogue and consensus-building. It also reflects a shift in the national conversation around Nnamdi Kanu’s case. What began as a regional issue has evolved into a broader national concern, drawing voices from across ethnic and political lines.
At the heart of Sowore’s message is a call for fairness. He argues that several activists and agitators from other regions who were previously charged with politically motivated offenses have been freed, while Kanu remains detained despite court rulings in his favor. This, he says, reflects the hypocrisy of the Nigerian justice system and the selective nature of law enforcement. He insists that Kanu’s case should not be treated differently simply because it touches on the question of Igbo marginalization. To Sowore, freeing Kanu is not just about one man, it is about restoring faith in justice and proving that Nigeria’s democracy is not selective.
The meeting with Jonathan has also fueled speculation about whether a broader coalition is forming to pressure the Tinubu administration. Sources close to both men revealed that their discussion went beyond Kanu’s case to include the state of national reconciliation and the need for dialogue in resolving political grievances. Jonathan’s promise to take up the issue with Tinubu suggests that back-channel consultations may soon follow, though it remains unclear whether the current administration will be receptive. Analysts say Jonathan’s involvement could lend credibility and moral weight to the campaign, especially among political elites who are often cautious about taking public stands on sensitive issues.
Sowore’s activism on this issue traces back to 2021, shortly after Kanu’s controversial re-arrest and extradition from Kenya. Since then, Sowore has used his platform, including Sahara Reporters, to highlight what he calls the “criminalization of dissent” and the “double standards” in Nigeria’s justice system. He has repeatedly visited court sessions where Kanu was arraigned, expressing solidarity and demanding his release. He has also criticized both the federal government and some southeastern politicians for turning the case into a political bargaining chip. His persistence, despite multiple arrests and trials of his own, has kept him at the center of Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement.
As Sowore continues to mobilize both the streets and the corridors of power, all eyes are now on how the government will respond to this renewed push. Will Tinubu’s administration heed the growing calls for Kanu’s release, or will it double down on the narrative of national security? Will Jonathan’s intervention open a new path for dialogue, or will it be dismissed as political theater? His message, echoed in every statement, is that justice delayed is justice denied, and that Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while one man remains detained for expressing political beliefs.
In his own words, “I remain firmly committed to peacefully mobilizing for justice and freedom in this matter. Nnamdi Kanu should be set free.”