Prominent Yoruba nation campaigner, Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, has appealed to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to adopt dialogue with the Federal Government as a pathway to resolving his legal and political challenges.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by his lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, Igboho praised Kanu for officially ending the long-running Monday sit-at-home directive that had affected economic and social activities across the South-East for five years.
He described the decision as a significant and commendable move toward restoring peace and stability in the region.
Igboho noted that terminating the weekly protest demonstrated thoughtful leadership, adding that it could help revive economic activities that had been disrupted since the directive was introduced.
Beyond applauding the cancellation, the activist encouraged Kanu to consider a broader strategy centred on dialogue and mediation with the Federal Government. According to the statement, engaging in constructive discussions could help break the protracted impasse surrounding his detention.
Igboho expressed confidence that the administration of Bola Tinubu would be open to negotiations aimed at achieving peace, security and mutual understanding. While acknowledging Kanu’s right to pursue self-determination, he emphasised that peaceful engagement remains the most viable route to lasting resolution.
The statement also cautioned individuals and groups allegedly profiting from violence and instability in the South-East, urging them to desist in the interest of regional and national development. Igboho stressed that ending unrest would pave the way for economic recovery and prosperity.
IPOB had declared the sit-at-home order in August 2021 to protest Kanu’s rendition to Nigeria and subsequent detention, a move that led to the closure of markets, schools, banks and other institutions on designated days.
Kanu was convicted on terrorism-related charges on November 20, 2025, and sentenced to life imprisonment, a judgment his family has rejected and vowed to challenge on appeal. Following the ruling, he was transferred to the Sokoto Correctional Centre after the court determined that the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja was unsuitable for his incarceration.
Igboho’s call is seen as a notable gesture of solidarity between two influential ethnic activists, underscoring growing calls for dialogue and peaceful engagement in addressing regional grievances.
