—— Says a Nation negotiates best when it stands on the pillars of law, order, and stability.
A Public Affairs Analyst and Secretary, Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria, Enugu State Chapter, Dr.Chikezie Obasi, made this known while speaking on a topic “ The State Of The Nation,” on Freedom Square, a programme on Solid FM, 100.9, anchored by Uchenna Cyril Anioke.
Dr. Obasi stressed that no government enters negotiations from a position of weakness, pointing to the ongoing case of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as a major test of Nigeria’s governance philosophy.
He noted that while dialogue and diplomacy remains an essential tool for resolving national tensions, it must be anchored on the principles of state authority, strategic confidence, and national security.
According to him, “government does not negotiate on the point of weakness. You cannot tell a government to file a case of “Nolle Prosequi” for you, when they are holding you and they feel in their own understanding not by any barometer, but you are not remorseful on what you have done. If you file a case of Nolle Prosequi , it simply means that all the charges are withdrawn. You can’t try the person again and what that simply means is that you have given the person a clean bill to do whatever he wants to do. That is why EFCC will enter what they call “plea bargain”, so that they will have some evidence against you that you agreed that you took something.
Continuing, this is the time for diplomacy to kick start. First I blame the lawyers that handled that case. I thought they would have let politicians to have interface with Nnamdi Kanu. Maybe this issue would have been more resolved through political way . This is the time politicians should move in.Th is a criminal matter against the statehood, government is looking at it from threatening sovereignty.”
He argued that leadership must balance firmness with fairness, ensuring that engagements with non-state actors do not diminish the strength of national institutions.
Obasi stated that any political or legal resolution to the Kanu case should be approached diplomatically to avoid sending a signal that the government yields only when pressured.
He therefore, urged policymakers to adopt a strategy that promotes peace while safeguarding the integrity of the state.