Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has issued a strong appeal for restraint and constructive engagement in response to the conviction and sentencing of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on terrorism charges delivered on 20 November 2025.
Speaking upon her return from Zanzibar, Tanzania, where she had been on an NTAC monitoring exercise, Ojukwu described the development as “not the outcome we anticipated, nor prayed for, but a reality that is now upon us.”
She emphasized that this moment calls for calm across the nation, particularly among Ndigbo, urging Nigerians at home and abroad to avoid actions that could inflame tensions or escalate unrest.
Ojukwu stressed that the path forward must be rooted in reflection and dialogue.
She called on Igbo stakeholders—including governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, clergy, traditional rulers, politicians, and business leaders—to engage collectively with government authorities.
According to her, “beating the drums of fury and sabre rattling will only generate diminishing returns, and in the worst case scenario, yet another wasteland.”
Highlighting the importance of justice, equity, and dignity in the coexistence of Ndigbo within Nigeria, Ojukwu underscored that peace and order remain essential to safeguarding the security of all citizens, regardless of tribe or creed.
She reassured Nigerians and international partners that prospects still exist for resolving the impasse in ways that reduce national anxiety and societal trauma.
“Now is the time for us all in Ala Igbo to put all hands on deck,” she declared, urging a joint and sincere engagement involving all South Eastern states to seek a political resolution to the matter.
Her statement reflects a broader call for unity, patience, and collective responsibility in navigating one of the most sensitive moments in Nigeria’s recent history.
By advocating dialogue over confrontation, Ojukwu positions herself as a voice of reason, appealing for a peaceful and inclusive approach to resolving the crisis surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s sentencing.
