Senator Umeh Condemns Nnamdi Kanu’s Imprisonment, Says It Contradicts Over 90% of Igbo Sentiments

By Tony Okafor, Awka

The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Chief Victor Umeh, has condemned the life imprisonment sentence handed down to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing it as a consequence of years of governmental mismanagement and a failure to engage in meaningful dialogue when it mattered most.

Widely regarded as stepping into the legacy of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in defending the Igbo cause, Senator Umeh has long been seen as an apostle of equity and fairness for Ndigbo in Nigeria.

In a recent interview, Umeh emphasized that anyone who has followed the legal and political trajectory of Kanu’s case would not be surprised by the outcome.

He traced the origins of the South East agitation to 2016, noting that it began as a peaceful movement supported by respected Igbo leaders and fueled by genuine complaints of marginalization.

He recalled the Nkpor massacre as a turning point, when security forces opened fire on peaceful IPOB protesters—an act Umeh strongly condemned, insisting that such extreme measures against unarmed youths were entirely unjustifiable.

His public criticism of the killings led to his arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) on March 3, 2016, with accusations of incitement and alleged financing of IPOB.

Umeh defended himself, stating that he only spoke against the killings and consistently advocated dialogue, understanding, and political engagement rather than force.

Umeh said rather than addressing the root causes of the agitation, the government escalated tensions by proscribing IPOB through a court order—a move Umeh openly opposed on the Senate floor.

“Court orders cannot silence political grievances or replace genuine engagement,” the Senator asserted.

According to Umeh, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not the core problem but a reflection of the frustrations of millions of Igbo people.

Treating him alone as the issue, he argued, demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the realities in the South East.

Drawing comparisons with other national conflicts, Umeh highlighted the diplomatic approach applied in the Niger Delta under the Yar’Adua administration and the rehabilitation of former Boko Haram members.

“In the South East, however, a purely militarized approach was chosen, despite the agitation being rooted in legitimate political and emotional grievances,” he lamented.

Umeh added that to restore peace, all 10 South East Senators, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation for Kanu’s release.

When no action was taken, they followed up with a visit to the AG, while Umeh privately appealed to President Bola Tinubu during his visit to Anambra State, urging him to consider release as a step toward reconciliation.

The Senator insisted that the life imprisonment sentence does not solve the problem and runs contrary to the sentiments of over 90 percent of Igbo people.

“Only dialogue, justice, and proper leadership can restore lasting peace in the South East,” Umeh maintained.