——- Says national unity cannot thrive when any region feels sidelined or treated with injustice.
Former Presidential Candidate, National Conscience Party (NCP), Chief Martin Onovo, made this known while speaking on the topic “Nnamdi Kanu’s Life Sentence: Implications to the Security and Politics of Ndigbo,” on the programme, Beyond the Headlines on Freedom Square TV, anchored by Uchenna Cyril Anioke.
Onovo, called for a stronger political front for the Igbo nation, insisting that only true political empowerment can guarantee justice, equity, and sustainable national unity in Nigeria.
In his words, “my own take is that the South East has been oppressed with political power. If we get the political power, we will not oppress ourselves. When it is our turn, we take the political power using the right person. We will not oppress ourselves and that is why I ran for president because when you put justice everywhere, that is when you have national unity and cohesion. Nobody will be marginalized,” he stated.
Onovo emphasized that the lingering case of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is a clear example of why the Southeast must consolidate its political strength to assert its constitutional rights within the Nigerian federation.
According to him, “Nnamdi Kanu and his Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) has a philosophy of non-violence, which I find to be formidable and superior. They have morality and legality on their side because the United Nations Charter provides for the right to self determination. So it is a universal right and that is where they have anchored their struggle. Even if they are using tactics different from what i prefer, I have to respect their morality and legality of their own position. I think this is politics and I think emotions and undue alarm is not productive in this context. It is a game you play, you adopt suitable strategies, as you progress, you update your strategies, that is simple. Emotions will only push you to think probably less effective and efficient decisions . You have to be calm and calculative.”
He stated that the perceived marginalisation of the Igbo people in critical national affairs stems from the region’s weakened political influence, a challenge he believes can be reversed through purposeful leadership and a unified agenda.
Onovo further emphasized that addressing the Southeast’s grievances especially the controversy surrounding Kanu’s sentence remains key to lasting peace.
He urged political leaders, civil society groups, and youth advocates across the Igbo region to prioritise strategic participation in governance, democratic negotiations, and national discourse.
“The perspective of one person naturally will not be comprehensive. The perspective of one person is normally very limited. So you do a broad review. What are the exact situations not the sensational headlines. It is lack of knowledge that make people over exaggerate the Nnamdi Kanu issue. It is politics and a game. It is not a game that Chief Dr. Anioke will play alone, no! It is severely constrained and limited by one person and it is not playing against one person. So when you are talking of the Igbo question in Nigeria; the highest density and population of Igbo people is in the South East and South East must provide leadership for the Igbo question. But from my own perspectives, I believe in the universal brotherhood of all men, no exception. So I believe that the universal right of all men in the world should be guaranteed and on that basis, we can establish justice that every reasonable person can accept and the constitution of Nigeria provides for all that. You cannot discriminate against a Nigerian,” he concluded.
Onovo therefore reaffirmed that a politically empowered Southeast would not only secure fairness for its people but also contribute significantly to stabilising Nigeria’s democracy.