Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has appealed for calm and restraint across the country following the conviction and sentencing of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on terrorism charges.
In a statement issued after her return from Zanzibar, Tanzania, where she had been on a five-day NTAC monitoring mission, the minister said the development was “not the outcome we prayed for,” but urged Nigerians, especially Ndigbo, to avoid actions that could inflame tensions.
Amb. Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that the moment called for sober reflection rather than anger, warning that any incendiary reaction could worsen the situation both within Nigeria and across the diaspora. “There comes a time in the history of a people when there is need for calm. I therefore advise Ndigbo, and Nigerians as a whole, that such a period is now,” she said.
She further cautioned against provocative statements or demonstrations that could escalate insecurity or trigger avoidable confrontations. “All actions which could be deemed incendiary, and which might escalate the situation at home or in the diaspora should be curtailed. A word is enough for the wise,” she added.
According to the minister, the current situation requires coordinated engagement involving political, religious, traditional, and community leaders across the South-East. She emphasised that collective dialogue, rather than anger-driven rhetoric, remains the only path toward achieving a lasting solution.
“Beating the drums of fury and sabre rattling will only generate diminishing returns, and in the worst case scenario, yet another wasteland,” she warned.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to exploring avenues for peaceful resolution. She noted that the issues surrounding Kanu’s case and broader concerns of Ndigbo in Nigeria must be approached with wisdom, unity, and strategic engagement.
“The most effective path toward resolution of this crisis is dialogue. The quest for mutual coexistence of Ndigbo in Nigeria with justice, equity and dignity is a commitment which requires our collective resolve,” she stated, adding that maintaining peace and order is essential for the safety of all citizens.
The minister reassured Nigerians and international partners that diplomatic and political engagements are ongoing to reduce national anxiety. She called on leaders across the South-East to unite in pursuing a coherent and constructive approach.
“Now is the time for us all in Ala Igbo to put all hands on deck, and to have a joint engagement involving all the South Eastern States, to seek a political resolution to this matter,” she said.
