Bianca Ojukwu speaks on Nnamdi Kanu’s life imprisonment

Bianca Ojukwu Speaks on Nnamdi Kanu’s Life Imprisonment

Bianca Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and widow of Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu, has reacted to the life imprisonment handed down to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Her statement emphasizes calm, restraint, and dialogue as the way forward for Nigeria and the Igbo people.  

On November 20, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Nnamdi Kanu on terrorism charges and sentenced him to life imprisonment. 

The charges stemmed from his agitation for the secession of Nigeria’s South-east and parts of the South-south to form an independent state of Biafra. Kanu’s trial had been ongoing since his first arrest in 2015, and the verdict marked the culmination of years of legal battles and political tension.  

Bianca Ojukwu, returning from an official assignment in Zanzibar, Tanzania, described the judgment as “not the outcome we anticipated, nor prayed for, but a reality that is now upon us.” She acknowledged the deep disappointment felt across the South-east but urged Nigerians, particularly the Igbo community, to avoid actions that could inflame tensions. In her words, “There comes a time in the history of a people when there is a need for calm. I therefore advise Ndigbo, and Nigerians as a whole, that such a period is now.”  

Her appeal was not limited to calming emotions. Ojukwu stressed the importance of dialogue and political solutions as the most viable path forward. She called on Igbo leaders, including governors, senators, and traditional rulers—to unite and engage constructively with the federal government. 

According to her, anger and rash actions would only worsen the already charged atmosphere, while strategic engagement could open doors to resolution.  

Ojukwu’s intervention carries symbolic weight. As the widow of Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Biafran warlord who led the secessionist struggle during Nigeria’s civil war, her voice resonates strongly among the Igbo people. Her call for calm reflects both her political position as a minister in President Bola Tinubu’s administration and her historical connection to the Biafran cause. 

By urging restraint, she seeks to balance the emotional response of the Igbo community with the need for national stability.  

The sentencing of Nnamdi Kanu has already sparked widespread debate across Nigeria. While some view it as a necessary step to uphold national security, others see it as a harsh punishment that could deepen feelings of marginalization in the South-east. 

Ojukwu’s statement attempts to bridge this divide by acknowledging the pain of the verdict while steering the conversation toward constructive dialogue.  

Bianca Ojukwu’s response to Nnamdi Kanu’s life imprisonment underscores a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s political landscape. Her emphasis on calm, unity, and dialogue reflects both the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for measured leadership. 

Whether her appeal will succeed in tempering emotions and fostering political solutions remains to be seen, but her intervention has added a significant voice to the unfolding narrative of Nigeria’s struggle with secessionist movements and national cohesion.