Oct 20 Protest: Why Atiku was right to demand release of Nnamdi Kanu from Nigerian govt – Tukur
A public analyst and the Youth Leaders for Peace (EYLP), Rilwan Tukur, has given reasons why the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was right when he stated that the case of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, with the Nigerian government demands a political solution and called for his release.
Tukur disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
His stance comes amid criticism by Murtala Gamji, a northern leader, who said that Atiku’s position was politically motivated.
Reacting, Tukur said it was clear that Murtala Gamji misunderstood the meaning of Atiku’s good intentions, “which has nothing to do with personal interest. If Atiku has any interest in the matter, it is only his desire for peace and stability in the country.”
According to Tukur, as a statesman, Atiku will always support efforts that bring peace and unity to Nigeria.
“Contrary to Gamji’s wrong understanding of Nigeria’s problems, there are some legal issues that need political solutions for the sake of peace and stability.
“Did the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua not resolve the Niger Delta crisis through a political solution instead of endless court cases?
“The Niger Delta is peaceful today because Yar’Adua chose dialogue over war—he released the militant leaders from detention and granted them amnesty.”
“It is, therefore, completely wrong to attack Atiku for calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu as part of efforts to find a political solution to the IPOB issue. We cannot pretend that IPOB is not a national problem that needs quick political resolution rather than endless court battles. Atiku’s only interest in Kanu’s case is to help reduce tension in the South East through political dialogue instead of continued legal fights that only create more anger among IPOB supporters.
“As a true statesman, Atiku will always support any effort aimed at achieving peace and stability in Nigeria.”
The development comes amid the Omoyele Sowore-led planned protest on October 20, 2025, to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has been under the custody of the Department of State Services since June 2021, when he was rearrested in Kenya.
DAILY POST reports that there have been several calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release Kanu, however, none have yielded results.
Oct 20 Protest: Why Atiku was right to demand release of Nnamdi Kanu from Nigerian govt – Tukur
