By Rt. Hon.Tanimu Audu
With profound respect and unwavering patriotism, I write as a Presidential aspirant, a scholar of governance, and a Nigerian deeply committed to the indivisibility of our nation. This letter is both a plea and a policy proposition—anchored on law, equity, and the supreme interests of national unity.
Nigeria stands today at a crossroads where statesmanship must rise above politics, and where dialogue must triumph over the rigidity of retributive justice.
After critically studying the actions, utterances, and motivations of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu—leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)—I have come to a sober conclusion: Kanu’s agitation arose not from malice toward Nigeria, but from frustration with systemic corruption, perceived structural imbalance, and unresolved national grievances.
Yet, the question remains: If Nigeria becomes more polarized, does that solve corruption—or multiply it?
A Nation Yearning for Reconciliation.
Your Excellency, Nigeria is bruised but hopeful. Our union remains strained by historical neglect, perceived injustice, and regional discontent. The agitation led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu—though flawed in certain methods and excessive in rhetoric—draws its oxygen from long-standing issues of equity, representation, and the quest for justice.
However, it must be stated unequivocally:
A divided Nigeria cannot defeat corruption.
Fragmentation is not a cure for systemic decay. Polarisation cannot birth prosperity or security.
Rather, Nigeria needs a renewed architecture of trust, fairness, and institutional transparency.
The Tinubu Administration’s Moment of Greatness
Your Excellency, your track record demonstrates bold leadership. You have demonstrated courage in confronting corruption, rescuing abducted Nigerians, and steering the economy through turbulence. In my earlier letter to former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, I described you as: “A veteran leader and political strategist who thundered against corruption and tyranny.”
I stand firmly by those words. And yet, history teaches us that the greatest leaders are not remembered solely for their wars, but for their reconciliations. They are remembered for transforming dissent into dialogue, grievances into growth, and divisions into unity.
This moment provides Your Excellency with a rare, historic opportunity to lead Nigeria toward reconciliation.
Why Commutation is Crucial for Nigeria’s Stability: The continued incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has become a symbol of regional discontent. It fuels anger, deepens distrust, and reinforces the dangerous perception that the Igbo nation has been politically sidelined.
Commuting his sentence will: Diffuse tension across the South-East. Reinforce the principle of equal citizenship. Open doors to meaningful dialogue. Demonstrate magnanimity and visionary leadership. Disarm extremist narratives that feed on perceived injustice. Justice and mercy are not contradictions — they are complementary pillars of true leadership.
The Interplay of Judiciary, Legislature, and Executive. The Executive: To lead this reconciliation initiative with wisdom, firmness, and empathy. The Legislature: To support equitable policies that guarantee every ethnic group its rightful place in the Nigerian polity. The Judiciary: To consider the legal questions around proportionality, due process, and the largely political nature of the offence — all within the precincts of independence and fairness.
This is not interference, it is institutional synergy for national survival.
The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) emphasizes rehabilitation alongside punishment. Kanu’s offences were primarily speech-driven political agitation, with no direct acts of mass violence.
Your Excellency, nations rise when leaders choose reconciliation over resentment, inclusion over alienation, and justice over vengeance.
Commuting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s sentence and initiating a national dialogue would not only quell tensions — it would cement your legacy as the President who healed a fractured nation through wisdom, courage, and statesmanship.
Your Excellency, history presents every leader with defining moments.
Choose dialogue, justice, and unity. Let your Presidency be remembered as the era when Nigeria healed, reconciled, and stood united.
Rt. Hon.Tanimu Audu, a Presidential Aspirant under the platform of YPP in 2023
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