A prominent human rights lawyer, Christopher Chidera, has condemned the continued detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, describing it as politically motivated and lacking legal justification.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Chidera asserted that Kanu’s incarceration is not based on solid legal grounds but rather a deliberate move by the Nigerian government to punish him for his outspoken criticism and diminish his growing influence among the Igbo people.
“Kanu is being punished for speaking truth to power,” Chidera stated. “There is no cogent legal basis for his prolonged detention. If he were truly guilty of spreading falsehoods—like his claim that former President Muhammadu Buhari had died—why hasn’t he been charged for misinformation?”
The legal expert insisted that Kanu’s popularity is rooted not in propaganda but in his consistency and sacrifices for the cause he believes in.
“Nnamdi Kanu doesn’t need propaganda to win the loyalty of his people. He has the truth, he has consistency, and he has suffered more in the pursuit of freedom than all of them combined,” Chidera added.
Beyond the legal concerns, Chidera used the platform to deliver a strong message to Africans, urging a shift in mindset over external blame. He said mental complacency—not colonialism—is the continent’s greatest challenge.
“Africa’s biggest curse isn’t colonialism; it’s our refusal to think,” he declared. “Until Black Africans learn to reason critically, challenge authority, and demand evidence over emotion, we will remain trapped—not by foreign hands, but by our own mental laziness.”
Meanwhile, the event also featured presentations advocating for the creation of new states, including New Oyo State, Ibadan State, Coastal State (from Ondo), and Igbomina State (from parts of Osun, Ekiti, and Kwara). There were also calls for the reservation of legislative seats for women at both national and state levels.
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