In a biting remark that has unsettled political circles, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has mocked President Bola Tinubu’s administration over its handling of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, describing the courtroom as having become “a live broadcast of Radio Biafra.”
“Allowing Nnamdi Kanu to speak in court is like allowing Radio Biafra to broadcast live to the whole world,” Abaribe said pointedly.
“Nigeria has finally given Radio Biafra an official platform to disgrace them before the world," he added.
The senator’s statement laced with sarcasm and political undertone has sparked widespread debate across Nigeria, with many interpreting it as a direct challenge to Tinubu’s grip on the nation’s fragile unity and his government’s approach to dissent.
Abaribe, who was one of Kanu’s sureties before his 2021 rearrest, further taunted the authorities, saying, “The Radio Biafra is now live and direct in the courtroom and the whole earth is listening.”
The phrase, once used by Kanu in his separatist broadcasts, carried a symbolic sting, suggesting that the government had inadvertently amplified the very voice it sought to silence.
Political analysts say Abaribe’s remarks expose the Tinubu administration’s vulnerability in managing the delicate question of national integration, especially in the South-East where disillusionment remains high.
Many observers argue that the government’s hardline stance on Kanu and IPOB has done little to quell separatist sentiment and may, in fact, be fueling renewed agitation.
“This is not just about Kanu’s trial anymore; it’s about how Tinubu’s government is perceived in terms of fairness, justice, and inclusion,” said one political commentator.
“Abaribe’s statement hits a nerve because it speaks to the optics — the image of a government that claims to promote dialogue but continues to appear intolerant of dissent.”
The Presidency has yet to respond officially to Abaribe’s comments, but insiders within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) privately dismissed the senator’s remarks as “political grandstanding.”
Still, the public mood suggests otherwise. On social media, Abaribe’s comments have resonated widely, with many Nigerians accusing the Tinubu government of failing to address underlying grievances that fuel separatist narratives.
As the courtroom drama around Nnamdi Kanu continues, Abaribe’s words have added fresh political heat and a stark reminder that the battle over Biafra may be far from over, both in the courts and in the court of public opinion.
