Presidency Draws Clear Distinction Between Kanu and Igboho's Activism
In a significant clarification from the highest levels of government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration has firmly rejected attempts to equate the activism of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho, asserting their methods, actions, and consequences are fundamentally different.
Presidential Spokesman Issues Detailed Statement
Sunday Dare, special adviser to President Tinubu on media and public communication, emphasized that there is "no basis for comparison" between the two prominent figures. The statement, issued on Tuesday, February 17, represents the government's most detailed public position on distinguishing between the two activists who have captured national attention through their separatist movements.
Dare maintained that while both figures have advocated for self-determination, their approaches and impacts on Nigerian society diverge dramatically. The presidential spokesman called for more nuanced public discourse that recognizes these critical differences rather than lumping both activists together as similar threats to national unity.
Kanu's Path: Armed Rebellion and Violent Enforcement
The government's statement outlined specific differences in methodology, with Kanu's approach characterized by what Dare described as "armed rebellion and violent enforcement." According to the presidential spokesman, Kanu's actions as leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) escalated to include:
- Enforcement of sit-at-home orders through threats and violence
- Attacks on security forces and destruction of public infrastructure
- Formation of armed groups like the Eastern Security Network (ESN)
- Rhetoric viewed as inciting violence against the state
Dare cited reports of over 700 fatalities linked to enforcement clashes and defiance killings in the southeast region, emphasizing that Kanu's activities resulted in significant loss of life and economic disruption through paralysing measures that harmed civilians and regional economies.
Igboho's Approach: Community Defense and Peaceful Agitation
In contrast, the government characterized Sunday Igboho's activism as "largely defensive and localised" against perceived external threats. According to Dare's statement, Igboho's activities centered on:
- Defending Yoruba communities against alleged killings, kidnappings, and farm destructions by suspected herders
- Focusing on self-defense and warding off criminal elements from Yorubaland
- Peaceful agitation for Yoruba self-determination without establishing militias to fight Nigerian military forces
- Avoiding attacks on police and soldiers or imposing economically damaging enforcement measures
The presidential spokesman stressed that Igboho's activism remained primarily focused on community protection rather than state-targeted insurgency, distinguishing his approach from what the government views as Kanu's more confrontational methodology.
Call for Nuanced Public Discourse
Dare concluded his statement with a direct appeal to Nigerians, stating: "Public discourse should stop equating the two; the contexts, methods, and consequences are fundamentally different." This represents a clear government position that seeks to shape how both activists are understood and discussed in national conversations about security, self-determination, and regional tensions.
The clarification comes amid ongoing debates about the treatment of separatist movements in Nigeria and follows recent calls from Igbo leaders for Kanu's release from detention. Senator Azuta Mbata, president general of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, had previously urged President Tinubu and the federal government to release Kanu, arguing the IPOB leader has remained in detention for too long.
By drawing these distinctions, the Tinubu administration appears to be establishing a framework for how it views different forms of activism and separatism, potentially signaling different approaches to handling various regional movements based on their methods and impacts on national security and social cohesion.
