Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Chief Dan Ulasi, says the continued detention and controversy surrounding the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, represents deeper unresolved political and historical grievances tied to the Southeast region.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Symfoni TV, Ulasi said Nnamdi Kanu has become a symbol of the Southeast’s struggle for dignity, political inclusion, and historical justice, noting that the agitation cannot be resolved simply by force or court processes.
According to him, Kanu’s message resonates deeply among many in the Southeast because it speaks to long-standing issues of identity, self-governance, and the feeling of being politically sidelined in the Nigerian federation.
“Nnamdi Kanu is not just an individual; he symbolizes the deep-rooted frustrations and aspirations of many of our people,” Ulasi stated. “The problems he is raising did not begin today, and they will not disappear simply because he is detained.”
Ulasi explained that Southeast youths, in particular, connect with Kanu because they see in his rhetoric a call for restoration of dignity and respect — elements he says have been eroded by decades of political marginalization. He argued that the federal government must recognize that the issues raised by Kanu go beyond his organization or methods and reflect broader dissatisfaction.
He emphasized that the agitation in the Southeast is tied to unresolved national questions stemming from the aftermath of the civil war, structural imbalance in governance, and long-standing perceptions of exclusion from key national power structures.
“If the foundation of a union has cracks, no amount of force can permanently seal it,” Ulasi said. “Dialogue and political sincerity are the only sustainable options.”
Ulasi also criticized the heavy-handed security approach used in dealing with dissent in the Southeast, saying it only deepens resentment and widens mistrust between citizens and government.
“You cannot run a democratic country where citizens are afraid to express themselves,” he said. “This is a multi-ethnic nation. Diversity requires negotiation, not suppression.”
On the current political climate, Ulasi expressed concern over what he described as worsening democratic deterioration, where citizens no longer have safe or effective means to demand accountability. He noted that protest — a foundational democratic right — has effectively become criminalized in Nigeria.
He warned that sustained political exclusion and excessive force can fuel more radicalization rather than resolve tensions.
Turning to party politics, Ulasi assessed the crisis within the PDP, particularly in the Southeast and South-South zones, as severe and potentially irreversible unless major reconciliation efforts are made. He said many leaders are now acting primarily on political survival instincts rather than party loyalty or ideological alignment.
“The truth is that the PDP we once knew is no longer the same. The strength of a party lies in trust and cohesion, and both have been badly damaged,” he remarked.
Ulasi said that ahead of the 2027 elections, the Southeast must rethink its power strategy beyond merely aspiring for the presidency. He argued that regional development and unity among the five Southeast governors would create stronger leverage for the region, regardless of which party controls the federal government.
“Power is not given; it is built,” Ulasi noted. “If the Southeast develops itself deliberately and strategically, it will negotiate from strength. But if there is division, no region will take us seriously in national politics.”
He concluded by calling for a renewed emphasis on internal unity, purposeful leadership, and economic collaboration among Southeast states.
“Our future cannot depend on waiting for someone to hand us power. We must restore dignity, rebuild trust among ourselves, and chart a clear development path. Only then can we have true political relevance.
