February 13, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
Prominent Yoruba nation activist Chief Sunday Igboho has publicly called on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to “sheathe his sword” and embrace dialogue with the Federal Government of Nigeria as a pathway toward resolving their longstanding political and legal impasse. The appeal comes amid rising calls for peaceful engagement as Nigeria prepares for elections and heightened political discourse.
Igboho’s intervention, released through his legal representative Pelumi Olajengbesi, commended Kanu’s recent decision to discontinue the controversial Monday “sit-at-home” order that has paralyzed economic activities in the South-East region for nearly five years. Igboho described the suspension as a thoughtful move toward restoring normalcy and progress in the region.
But the Yoruba activist did not stop at praise. In a strategic pivot that signals a subtle shift within segments of Nigeria’s self-determination movements, Igboho urged Kanu to follow his concession with substantive negotiations and engagement with President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He argued that productive dialogue — rather than continued confrontation remains the most viable route to breaking the political deadlock surrounding Kanu’s detention and the broader agitation for regional autonomy.
While acknowledging the right to pursue self-determination, Igboho expressed confidence that Tinubu’s government is open to negotiation and that structured talks could advance peace, security, and economic prosperity for the South-East and Nigeria at large. This sentiment reflects a growing desire among some activists to exhaust diplomatic channels before resorting to more aggressive postures.
Igboho also took aim at unidentified actors he accused of profiting from unrest in the South-East, warning that continued instability whether for political leverage or personal gain — would hinder economic recovery and harm ordinary citizens. This call for restraint extends beyond IPOB to unnamed groups whose actions risk further fracturing national cohesion.
The appeal is significant because both Igboho and Kanu have long been viewed as polarizing figures within Nigeria’s complex landscape of ethnic activism. Igboho himself is a well-known advocate of Yorubaland self-determination, while Kanu remains the imprisoned leader of IPOB, serving a life sentence on terrorism charges after a conviction that his supporters vehemently contest.
Igboho’s overture underscores a possible realignment among nationalist movements in Nigeria, suggesting that elements once inclined toward confrontation may now favour diplomatic negotiation in pursuit of political objectives. Whether Kanu’s camp will respond positively remains to be seen, but the appeal for talks adds a new dimension to ongoing discussions about conflict resolution in one of Africa’s most politically dynamic nations.