Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has called on President Bola Tinubu to adopt dialogue and negotiation in addressing the Biafra question rather than relying on arrests and prosecutions.
Speaking on 90MinutesAfrica with Rudolf Okonkwo, Ejimakor described the agitation as a political issue rooted in demands for self-determination.
He argued that security crackdowns have failed to resolve the underlying grievances in the south-east.“When people engage in agitations for self-determination, they are actually asking to come to the table. The best answer to such agitations is not the use of law enforcement but dialogue,” he said.
Ejimakor cited Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which recognises the right to self-determination, stressing that while the state may reject secession, such decisions must emerge from negotiation.
He warned that continued reliance on force could deepen frustration and alienation in the region, noting that many residents still participate in Nigeria’s democratic process despite dissatisfaction.
‘The Buck Stops at Tinubu’s Table’
Ejimakor dismissed claims that south-east governors were responsible for Kanu’s continued detention, insisting that the matter is federal and rests with the president.
“The buck stops at the President’s table. Any narrative suggesting that south-east governors are responsible for Kanu’s continued detention is merely an attempt to shift responsibility away from the Presidency,” he said.
Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment in November 2025 on terrorism charges and is currently serving his sentence at a correctional centre in Sokoto.
Ejimakor argued that his detention remains emblematic of unresolved grievances in the south-east and urged Tinubu to intervene directly.
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