Prominent activist Omoyele Sowore has thrown down the gauntlet to political leaders from Nigeria’s South‑East region, urging them to lead a peaceful march to Aso Rock Presidential Villa to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Speaking via social media and in public appeals, Sowore called out figures like Peter Obi, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, charging that too much has been said about Kanu’s plight, and it is time for concrete action.
“Time for action is NOW. Let’s march to Aso Rock Villa,” Sowore declared, urging traditional rulers, religious leaders, and civil society actors in the South‑East to join in a visible, legal demonstration.
The Stakes & the Demand
Sowore’s demand centers on Kanu’s continued detention and the broader question of justice and due process.
He frames the march as a symbolic yet potent pressure tactic on the Federal Government, insisting that expressions of solidarity must now translate into physical presence.
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He specifically challenged leaders from the region to move beyond rhetoric and participate personally:
Peter Obi has been named explicitly among those being challenged, with questions raised about whether he will back his public pronouncements with action.
Governor Soludo, despite earlier calls for collaboration and dialogues regarding Kanu’s release, has not committed publicly to the proposed march.
Senator Abaribe, a vocal proponent of Kanu’s release in legislative and public fora, has not confirmed his participation in the march at the time of this reporting.
Sowore insisted that the protest would be peaceful, legal, and visible, distancing it from calls to violence.
Sowore’s call highlights a deeper tension in Nigeria’s politics: the gap between symbolic support and tactical mobilisation, especially in contentious national matters.
How leaders in the South‑East respond could either redefine their credibility or show the limits of political commitment.
