ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Special Adviser on Media to Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Ejimofor Opara, has criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, over his recent remarks calling for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
VONa reported that Obi had renewed his call for Kanu’s freedom during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington, D.C., United States, insisting that there was no justification for the continued detention of the IPOB leader.
According to members of the Obidient Movement, the engagement took place a few days ago.
In a video from the event that has since gone viral on social media, the former Anambra State governor maintained that he had consistently held the position that Kanu should not remain in custody.
Reacting to the comments, Opara described Obi’s position as a “major slap” on the Nigerian judiciary and an affront to the judicial system in Finland, where Simon Ekpa, whom he described as Kanu’s protégé, was prosecuted, convicted and is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for terrorism-related offences.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Opara argued that Obi’s remarks were careless, unfounded and driven by personal political interests. He further accused the former governor of attempting to undermine institutions that had previously worked in his favour.
The statement read in part: “Peter Obi is a product of the Nigerian judiciary. In 2006, the judiciary restored his mandate against all known odds. The same judiciary came to his rescue in 2007 after Andy Uba had skillfully manoeuvred him out of the power game.
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“If there is anyone who should have utmost respect for, and become an ambassador of, the Nigerian judiciary, that person should be Peter Gregory Obi.
“For context, Peter Obi’s careless and self-serving comments on the trial, conviction, and sentencing of Nnamdi Kanu are a major slap on not just the Nigerian judiciary, but more of an insult against the judiciary of Finland, where Simon Ekpa, Nnamdi Kanu’s protégé, was tried, found guilty, and is currently serving a six-year jail term for terrorism-related offences.
“For a man going into a major election, pandering to terrorists is not an advantage, especially when the judiciary has painstakingly committed itself to ensuring a just and open process.
“If Peter Obi were smart and clear-headed, he would have known that the judiciary permitted a live broadcast of the final proceedings of Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction and sentencing precisely to avert careless statements like the one Obi made from faraway Maryland, USA.
“Even if the judiciary pretends not to have seen Obi’s gaffe, history books will not forget that persons like Obi existed solely to destroy institutions and individuals who made them, just to advance a futile personal ambition. Peter owes both the Nigerian judiciary and the courts in Finland an open apology.”
Kanu is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted on terrorism-related charges by a Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2025.
The court found him guilty on multiple counts, including incitement, membership of a proscribed organisation and alleged involvement in attacks linked to separatist activities across the South-East.
He received life imprisonment on some counts, while additional jail terms imposed on other counts are running concurrently.
Kanu has rejected the verdict and subsequently filed an appeal challenging both his conviction and sentence.