Nigerian journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu’s administration against thinking that silencing Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will bring unity to the country.
Momodu, in a post shared via his X account on Tuesday, reflected on the long detention of Kanu, noting that the roots of the Biafra agitation go beyond one man. He stressed that suppressing voices would only deepen discontent in the South-East.
According to him, the government must address historical injustices rather than rely on punitive measures that have failed to solve Nigeria’s internal divisions.
‘Biafra sentiment grew from decades of neglect’
Dele Momodu explained that the rise of the Biafra movement was the outcome of decades of marginalisation and deprivation faced by the Igbo people. He noted that the frustration among young people in the region stemmed from unaddressed socio-political inequalities.
Quoting one of Kanu’s past broadcasts, Momodu said it revealed the intellectual and emotional basis behind the renewed agitation. He criticised those who condemned Kanu without analysing the historical events that shaped his ideology.
He recalled that the civil war of the 1960s and 1970s left deep scars on the region, and that the continued neglect of the South-East only rekindled old wounds that fuel the call for self-determination.
‘Nigeria needs reconfiguration, not repression’
Momodu insisted that what the country needs now is political restructuring and inclusion, not repression. He warned that any attempt to eliminate Kanu or silence his supporters would further complicate Nigeria’s unity challenge.
He argued that genuine leadership involves engaging the best minds from every region and giving them opportunities to contribute meaningfully to national development.
“I will never support violence,” Momodu added. “But any sensible government will keep the geniuses of the South-East busy with productive engagements instead of hate.”
Shortly before his abduction from Kenya, by the Nigerian government, MAZI NNAMDI KANU, made this thought-provoking broadcast in which he philosophised about the reasons he and his supporters became radicalized. I have taken time to listen to his critics and discovered most of… pic.twitter.com/kjgUe1k4UJ
— Dele Momodu Ovation (@DeleMomodu) October 28, 2025