“Sheathe Your Sword, Pursue Dialogue With the Federal Government,” — Sunday Igboho Tells Nnamdi Kanu

Yoruba nation advocate Sunday Adeyemo, known as Igboho, has urged detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu to prioritise dialogue with the Federal Government after the suspension of the long-standing Monday sit-at-home order across the South-East.

The appeal was contained in a statement released on Friday by his lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, who said Adeyemo views Kanu’s decision as a meaningful step that should lead to broader political engagement.

Adeyemo praised the move to end the weekly shutdown, which for years disrupted economic and social life in the region. He said the decision presents an opportunity to reduce tensions and open formal channels of communication with authorities.

According to the statement, Adeyemo believes Kanu should build on the gesture by pursuing legal and political pathways that could address his situation and support stability in the South-East.

He also expressed confidence that the administration of Bola Tinubu may be open to dialogue aimed at mutual understanding, peace, and regional development.

In the same message, Adeyemo criticised violent actors operating in the South-East under the cover of agitation. He warned that continued insecurity harms economic recovery and public safety, and called on those involved to stop.

The intervention marks a rare public alignment between two prominent figures associated with separatist advocacy from different regions of the country.

Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, is serving a life sentence at the Sokoto Correctional Centre following his conviction on terrorism-related charges on November 20, 2025. His family has rejected the verdict and says it will pursue an appeal.

Adeyemo, who has previously faced security actions and is currently outside Nigeria, framed his message as a call for a shift from confrontation to negotiation as a means of easing long-standing tensions.