Sunday Igboho has urged Nnamdi Kanu to embrace dialogue with Federal Government after ending sit-at-home order.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that foremost Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has called on the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to prioritise diplomatic engagement with the Federal Government in resolving his ongoing legal and political challenges.
In a statement released on Friday and signed by his counsel, Pelumi Olajengbesi, Igboho commended Kanu for officially cancelling the Monday sit-at-home order that had disrupted economic and social activities across the South-East for five years.
Igboho described the decision as a critical and thoughtful move toward restoring stability and normalcy in the region.
“Chief Sunday Adeyemo wishes to commend the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on his recent cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home across the South-East zone of Nigeria,” the statement read.
He noted that ending what he described as a five-year economic siege on the South-East was a necessary step toward rebuilding the region’s economy and strengthening unity.
Beyond the cancellation, Igboho urged Kanu to adopt a new approach by seeking dialogue and mediation with the current administration.
“Chief Igboho urges the IPOB leader to vigorously explore dialogue and mediation with the Federal Government to break the deadlock in his ordeal,” the statement added.
The activist expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu’s administration would be open to negotiations, suggesting that peaceful resolution could be achieved through good-faith engagement.
While acknowledging Kanu’s right to pursue self-determination, Igboho maintained that dialogue remains the most viable path to peace, security and shared prosperity in the South-East.
The statement also criticised individuals or groups allegedly benefiting from unrest in the region, warning that continued violence and instability would hinder economic recovery.
Igboho’s intervention signals a notable moment of solidarity between two prominent ethnic activists, underscoring growing calls for negotiation and peaceful engagement to address regional tensions.
The IPOB sit-at-home order was first declared in August 2021 following Kanu’s rendition to Nigeria and subsequent detention. During the weekly protests, markets, schools, banks and offices across the South-East were often shut down.
Kanu was convicted on terrorism-related charges on November 20, 2025, and sentenced to life imprisonment. His family has rejected the verdict and indicated plans to appeal. He is currently being held at the Sokoto Correctional Centre after the court ruled that the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja was unsuitable for his detention.
