A coalition under the banner of Ethnic Youth Leaders for Peace has thrown its weight behind former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent remarks advocating for a political solution to the case of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
This position stands in contrast to comments attributed to Murtala Gamji of the Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum, who accused Atiku of leveraging the issue for political gain. Gamji’s group alleged that Atiku’s suggestion could ignite tensions across the country.
In a statement issued Sunday in Abuja by its national coordinator, Rilwan Mohammed Tukur, the EYLP defended Atiku’s call, asserting that it stemmed from a genuine desire to foster national peace and not from any political calculation.
“If Atiku has any interest in the matter, it is only his desire for peace and stability in the country,” Tukur stated, adding that Gamji had misinterpreted the former vice president’s intentions.
The group praised Atiku’s consistent commitment to unity, noting his history of supporting initiatives that promote national cohesion.
“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,” the statement said.
Highlighting precedents for political resolutions in Nigeria’s past, EYLP pointed to the approach taken by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua during the Niger Delta crisis.
“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,” the statement noted.
The group described criticism of Atiku’s position as unfair and misplaced, reaffirming that peaceful dialogue should not be dismissed in favour of prolonged legal confrontations. “Atiku is a statesman, who will always support actions that bring peace to Nigeria, as the saying goes, ‘peace is better than being right.’”
EYLP also questioned the silence of critics like Gamji in the face of other political resolutions applied to major security challenges in the country. “Does the Northern Youth Leaders Forum have short memories? Where were they when 400 Boko Haram members were freed and enrolled into the deradicalisation and rehabilitation programme of the federal government?” the group asked.
It cited other examples, such as Katsina State’s engagement with local bandits, as instances where non-military strategies were embraced. “Why didn’t Murtala Gamji condemn these peace efforts? One cannot treat one security issue differently from another because all of them are threats to the country’s peace. The IPOB agitation is no less serious than other security challenges Nigeria faces.”
According to the group, Atiku’s interest lies solely in diffusing tensions in the South East through political dialogue. “We cannot pretend that IPOB is not a national problem that needs a 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,” it stated.
The EYLP concluded by reaffirming Atiku’s standing as a statesman whose efforts are aimed at preserving peace and stability in Nigeria.
