Elder statesman and political commentator Chief Dan Ulasi has described the continued detention of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, as a grave injustice and a sign that Nigeria is still fighting its civil war in another form.
In an exclusive interview on Symfoni, Ulasi declared that the day Kanu is released will mark the true end of the Nigerian Civil War, and restore calm across the Southeast.
“The day Nnamdi Kanu is released will be the end of the Nigerian Civil War. We will have 95 percent peace in the Southeast,” Ulasi said.
He accused the federal government of using Kanu’s incarceration as a political weapon, rather than addressing the root causes of discontent in the region.
“Kanu’s issue has been turned into a political game. Instead of dialogue, they chose detention. That’s why insecurity festers — because injustice breeds anger,” he stated.
Ulasi argued that Kanu’s movement was driven by passion and perception of neglect, not terrorism.
“The young man is not a criminal. He saw injustice and spoke loudly about it. Instead of engaging him, they criminalized him. Meanwhile, those who have destroyed Nigeria are walking free.”
He blamed the Southeast governors for failing to collectively defend their people or visit Kanu in detention.
“Only Soludo went to see him. Others are afraid or compromised because they know Kanu’s popularity. If he walks free today, he can overwhelm all of them,” Ulasi said.
The elder statesman warned that peace in Nigeria cannot be achieved by brute force or selective justice, urging President Tinubu to demonstrate statesmanship by granting Kanu freedom.
“If this government is sincere about peace and national healing, the first step is to free Kanu. That will open the door for real dialogue and reconciliation.”
He further linked the country’s insecurity, corruption, and inequality to a deeper moral crisis, saying Nigeria has refused to learn from its painful history.
“We claim the war ended in 1970, but the mentality of domination and suspicion never ended. Until we face the truth, Nigeria will remain divided.”
Ulasi called on Igbo leaders, religious figures, and traditional rulers to unite in demanding justice and lasting peace.
“The Igbo elite must stop pretending. If they truly love their people, they must speak up for Kanu. This silence is betrayal.”
He concluded that Nnamdi Kanu’s release is not just an Igbo demand but a national necessity, as justice for one region would strengthen unity across Nigeria.
“Freeing Kanu is not about the East; it’s about the soul of Nigeria. You cannot build peace on injustice,” Ulasi declared.
