Bianca Ojukwu Calls For Calm After Nnamdi Kanu Sentencing Urges Collective Dialogue To Ease Tensions Across Nigeria

 

A wave of reaction has followed the sentencing of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on terrorism charges, and one of the strongest voices to weigh in is that of Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Her appeal arrived shortly after she returned from a five day NTAC monitoring assignment in Zanzibar, Tanzania, where she said she received the news with deep concern and sadness.

Public attention has remained fixed on the legal and political significance of Kanu’s sentencing, yet Ojukwu shifted the focus toward the immediate need for restraint. She emphasized that moments arise in the life of a nation when calm becomes not just desirable but necessary, and she stressed that such a moment now confronts Nigeria. According to her, responses inflamed by anger or fear could trigger outcomes far more damaging than the current turmoil.

A call went out to Ndigbo and to Nigerians across all regions to avoid any actions that could be interpreted as provocative. Ojukwu highlighted the risk of escalation both at home and within diaspora communities, noting that volatile reactions could complicate an already tense national situation. Her tone carried a mix of urgency and reassurance as she encouraged prudence, patience and discipline.

The minister framed dialogue as the most viable route toward de escalating tensions and seeking a sustainable resolution. She urged political leaders, elected officials, clergy, traditional rulers and business leaders from the South East to come together for thorough consultations. According to her, hostile rhetoric, threats or confrontational postures will not advance the interests of the region, and could instead lead to deeper alienation or destruction. She warned that fury driven responses often deliver diminishing returns that leave communities grappling with unnecessary hardship.

A broader appeal extended to the national audience, with Ojukwu reaffirming the importance of justice, dignity and equitable coexistence within Nigeria’s plural society. She argued that the Igbo pursuit of fairness must be matched with strategic engagement rather than impulsive reactions, stressing that peace and order remain essential for the security of all citizens regardless of identity.

Her message also carried a measure of optimism. Ojukwu indicated that prospects still exist for diffusing the crisis through political channels capable of reducing national anxiety and collective trauma. She mentioned ongoing engagements she has maintained over the years with key stakeholders and confirmed her readiness to intensify those efforts. She urged leaders across the South East to unite, coordinate and push for a political resolution that aligns with the broader national interest.

A final note of reassurance closed her statement as she encouraged patience and discipline from all sides. Ojukwu stressed that the path ahead requires cooperation, steady resolve and a shared determination to prevent the situation from deteriorating into deeper conflict.