Prominent lawyer and counsel to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, has said the agitation for Biafra can only be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, not arrests or law enforcement measures. Speaking during an interview on 90MinutesAfrica with Rudolf Okonkwo, Ejimakor described the agitation as a political issue rooted in demands for self-determination.
According to him, people advocating self-determination are seeking engagement with the Nigerian government rather than confrontation. He argued that the continued unrest in the South-East shows that security crackdowns alone have failed to address the grievances driving the movement.
Ejimakor cited Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which recognises the right to self-determination. While noting that the Nigerian government has the right to reject secession demands, he insisted such decisions should come through meaningful dialogue and negotiation instead of coercion.
The lawyer also expressed concern over growing frustration in the South-East, saying many residents remain dissatisfied with the continued detention of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. He stated that despite their grievances, many people in the region still participate in Nigeria’s democratic process because they consider themselves part of the country.
Ejimakor further rejected claims that South-East governors were responsible for Kanu’s continued detention, insisting that the matter rests with President Bola Tinubu and the federal government. He concluded by urging the government to engage in sincere negotiations to address the grievances fueling the Biafra agitation in the interest of national unity and lasting peace.