Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has weighed in on a recent call to action by prominent Nigerian activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, who is urging key political and traditional leaders in the Southeast to join him in a public demonstration demanding the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Sowore issued an open invitation to a wide range of Southeast figures including serving governors, former officials, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to march with him to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The activist said the time had come for those calling for Kanu’s freedom to go beyond words and take visible, collective action.
In a post that has since stirred conversation across social and political circles, Sowore wrote:
“Let’s march to Aso Rock. Every governor, senator, member of the House, traditional ruler, priest, Eze, Igbo person, and every Nigerian who believes in Kanu’s freedom. Come out and do more than talk. I will lead this.”
He specifically mentioned Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra, and former Anambra Governor and Labour Party leader Peter Obi, challenging them to join him in leading what he described as a peaceful but determined march to demand Kanu’s release.
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, has been in the custody of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021 after being rearrested abroad and brought back to Nigeria to face charges including treasonable felony.
His prolonged detention, despite court rulings ordering his release, has been a flashpoint of tension in the Southeast and among human rights groups.
Reacting to Sowore’s rallying cry, Senator Shehu Sani offered a characteristically wry observation.
In a post on his verified X account, Sani noted that Sowore has become synonymous with solo protest actions, often enduring the consequences alone.
“Comrade Sowore is used to organizing his protests, going to the cells, brutalized alone and going to the courts on a regular basis,” Sani wrote. “He has opened a challenge to the Southeast politicians to share the spirit of the Aluta Continua.”
Sani’s remark has been interpreted by many as both a nod to Sowore’s relentless activism and a subtle critique of the hesitancy among some Southeast political figures to take more radical steps in pursuit of Kanu’s release.
The exchange between the two prominent figures underscores the growing pressure on Southeast leaders to take a more assertive stand on the issue, especially amid rising concerns over insecurity and political instability in the region.
While many political leaders have called for Kanu’s release through official channels and dialogue, few have publicly supported mass protests or direct action as a strategy.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, has long been known for his activism and civil disobedience campaigns.
His call for a mass march to Aso Rock is the latest in a series of efforts aimed at mobilizing public support for social justice and political reform in Nigeria. See, More, Here>>>>
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