The Chief Promoter of the Alternative Movement, Segun Showunmi, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider a political resolution to the case of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who was recently sentenced to life imprisonment.
Kanu was convicted by a Federal High Court in Abuja on seven terrorism-related charges. In his judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution proved that Kanu’s broadcasts in support of Biafra incited violence and contributed to killings in parts of the country. Following the ruling, the Department of State Services (DSS) transferred him to the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Sokoto.
Speaking in Abeokuta on Monday at the “Guest Forum” organised by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, Showunmi urged the President to intervene in the interest of national unity.
He argued that adopting a political approach would help stabilise the country and foster reconciliation, stressing that Nigeria must avoid actions capable of deepening mistrust.
Showunmi maintained that releasing Kanu would help de-escalate insecurity in the South-East, rather than fuel further agitation. According to him, continued detention only emboldens violent actors in the region.
“The civil war is long over and it needs to be over. There can be no justification for the killings of Igbos in Igboland under whatever guise,” he said.
“I call on the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu that, for the benefit of this nation and the people we have lost to keeping this country together, we plead that we are now due for a political solution to Kanu’s case.
“We want the Igbos to understand that there is no conspiracy to do them injustice. The greater good of the country is served if he is released rather than kept behind bars. By leaving him behind bars, we are energising that audience that is misbehaving and killing people in the South-East.”
Addressing concerns about the judgment, Showunmi said the legal process should be allowed to run its course, adding that only the Court of Appeal can determine whether there was any miscarriage of justice. He dismissed claims of ethnic or political bias in the ruling.
On the Alternative Movement, he clarified that the platform is not a political party but a civic initiative geared toward encouraging broader participation in governance, particularly among young people. Wider involvement, he said, is essential for strengthening Nigeria’s democratic culture.
Earlier, Acting Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Peter Moses, said the “Guest Forum” was created to provide a platform for constructive engagement between policymakers, thought leaders and the public. He added that journalists have a responsibility beyond daily reporting to promote conversations that deepen democratic values.
