Ovation Publisher Questions Tinubu Government’s ‘Selective Mercy’ Over IPOB Leader’s Detention
Dele Momodu, the influential publisher of Ovation Magazine and a leading voice in Nigeria’s political landscape, has taken a strong swipe at All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Joe Igbokwe over his remarks opposing the possible release of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
In a pointed post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, October 10, 2025, Momodu questioned what he described as the hypocrisy and double standards of Nigeria’s justice system, wondering why terrorists and bandits are being granted amnesty and rehabilitation while Kanu remains in prolonged detention.
“So, terrorists and bandits can be released and rehabilitated, but not Nnamdi Kanu?” Momodu wrote, in what many observers have described as a searing indictment of the federal government’s approach to justice and reconciliation.
Momodu’s remarks came shortly after Joe Igbokwe warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration against granting Kanu a pardon, insisting that the separatist leader “does not deserve forgiveness.” Igbokwe’s comments, which echoed the government’s hardline stance, drew a wave of criticism from Nigerians who believe continued detention of the IPOB leader could deepen ethnic tensions and stall peace efforts in the South-East.
The Ovation publisher described Igbokwe’s statement as “needlessly harsh,” arguing that it reflects a disturbing inconsistency in the country’s policy on clemency. He noted that many violent extremists and insurgents have not only been freed but also reintegrated into society under government-sponsored rehabilitation programs—yet Kanu, whose movement has largely been political, continues to languish in custody.
Momodu’s intervention adds another powerful voice to the growing national debate over the fate of the IPOB leader. Prominent figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, activist Omoyele Sowore, and several human rights advocates have all called on President Tinubu to consider Kanu’s release as a gesture of national healing and dialogue.
Analysts say the renewed agitation underscores deep divisions in Nigeria’s political and ethnic fabric, especially amid mounting insecurity and public discontent with the government’s handling of dissent.
As the clamour for Kanu’s release gathers momentum, the Tinubu administration faces a defining test: whether to uphold its hardline approach or embrace reconciliation as a path toward national unity and peace.
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