Former Senate Minority Leader Enyinnaya Abaribe has reacted to the conviction and life sentence handed to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing the outcome as disappointing but “not surprising”, Okay News reports.
In a statement released on Thursday by his media adviser, Uchenna Awom, Abaribe said the judgment delivered in Kanu’s terrorism case reflected what many had predicted over the course of the trial.
He noted that concerns raised by political, traditional, and community leaders throughout the proceedings suggested that “the final judgment was foreseeable.”
The Senator recalled earlier appeals made to the Federal Government, urging it to extend amnesty to Kanu in accordance with approaches previously adopted for insurgent groups in the North-East, bandits in the North-West, and militants in the South-South.
“Many Nigerians had observed the contrast between engagements with armed groups in the North-East and North-West, as well as amnesty programmes in the South-South. This has led to concerns about fairness and equal treatment,” he said.
Abaribe said although the development would be painful to many across the country, he urged citizens to remain calm and continue believing in a justice system capable of earning broad public trust.
He added that the next steps now lie with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing hope that the President would consider national unity, equity, and inclusion as the country reflects on the implications of the ruling.
“We must remain calm and pray. May Nigeria succeed, thrive and advance in justice, equity and fairness,” Abaribe said.
