Paul Ibe, Spokesman to Ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has defended his stance on joining Omoyele Sowore to demand the release of Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu.
In a post on his X handle, Ibe said the former vice president has been consistent in his position on the matter.
“Atiku Abubakar has been consistent on the Nnamdi Kanu issue. In 2023, he called for Kanu’s release and in 2024, proposed a political resolution. In line with his position, he has now backed Sowore’s #MarchforKanu. It is a patriotic thing to do,” Ibe wrote.
The post was a reply to criticism from some political figures, including Hon. Amb. Samuel A. Danjuma, who described the move as “disappointing” and “politically motivated.”
“It’s quite interesting and honestly disappointing to see a former Vice President lend his voice to a matter as sensitive as that of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu without regard for the facts or national security realities,” Danjuma said in his response titled ‘On the Matter of Nnamdi Kanu and Atiku’s Sudden Advocacy.’
He accused Atiku of inconsistency, recalling his deleted 2022 post on the killing of Deborah Samuel.
“A true statesman stands by his words; he doesn’t shift position when it’s politically convenient,” he said.
Danjuma argued that Kanu’s case is not political persecution but a “national security matter.”
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not being detained for expressing political opinions; he is facing charges of treasonable felony, incitement, and terrorism-related activities,” he said, noting that IPOB’s violent activities “led to the killing of innocent citizens and security personnel, and the economic strangulation of communities.”
He accused Atiku and Sowore of “trying to stay politically relevant by exploiting the emotions of Nigerians,” adding that, “Those who claim to love Nigeria should be building bridges of unity, not lighting fires of discontent.”
Meanwhile, in his reply , Ibe raised questions about the fairness of Kanu’s ongoing trial.
“Let’s assume, but without conceding, that Kanu has a case to answer. Does the current sham trial suggest that there’s a serious and fair effort to render true justice?” it read.
The statement compared Kanu’s situation with that of other detainees who were later freed.
“What crime did others commit that Kanu committed? But others—Sambo Dasuki, Sunday Igboho, and Yele Sowore—have been granted bail. Why is Kanu’s case different? Maybe it is because his name is Nnamdi Kanu, and he comes from the wrong side of our geographical space,” it added.
The post further accused the government of double standards, noting that, “Boko Haram terrorists have been granted amnesty”, and concluded that “a political resolution of the Nnamdi Kanu issue is the only way forward.”
