The former Nigerian ambassador to Spain and widow of the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has urged Nigerians—particularly people of the South-East—to remain calm, measured, and united in the aftermath of the conviction and sentencing of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on terrorism charges.
Bianca made this appeal in a public statement issued on Friday, November 21, 2025, shortly after returning from Zanzibar, Tanzania, where she had spent five days on an NTAC monitoring assignment. According to her, the news of Kanu’s conviction was both deeply saddening and unexpected, representing a painful moment for many Nigerians who had hoped for a different outcome.
She stressed that although the judgment was not what was anticipated or prayed for, the current situation requires emotional discipline and collective restraint to avoid escalating tensions across the country or among Nigerians in the diaspora.
A Call for Calm in Troubled Times
Ambassador Ojukwu emphasized that history sometimes presents turning points that demand maturity and calmness, especially when national emotions are running high. She warned that any incendiary actions—whether in words or conduct—could worsen the already fragile mood in the South-East and across the country.
“There comes a time in the history of a people when there is need for calm,” she stated. “I therefore advise Ndigbo, and Nigerians as a whole, that such a period is now. All actions which could be deemed incendiary, and which might escalate the situation at home or in the diaspora, should be curtailed.”
Her message was clear: caution must take precedence over confrontation, and wisdom must override anger.
Dialogue, Not Disruption, Is the Way Forward
A major thrust of Bianca Ojukwu’s message is the urgent need for constructive dialogue. She noted that resolving the issues surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction—and the broader grievances of the Igbo people—requires unity among regional leaders and meaningful engagement with the Federal Government.
She called for a broad coalition of Igbo stakeholders to come together, including:
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South-East governors
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Senators and members of the House of Representatives
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Clergy and traditional rulers
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Business leaders and community influencers
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Political representatives across party lines
According to Ojukwu, this united delegation must approach the government with one voice, reinforcing the principles of justice, equity, and mutual coexistence.
“The most effective path toward resolution of this crisis is dialogue,” she said. “Beating the drums of fury and sabre-rattling will only generate diminishing returns, and in the worst case scenario, yet another wasteland.”
She maintained that the collective quest of the Igbo people—to live within the Nigerian nation with dignity, fairness, and equal opportunity—cannot be achieved through disorder or violent agitation, but through structured engagement and peaceful negotiation.
Reassurance to Nigerians and the International Community
Bianca also extended her message beyond the South-East, addressing Nigerians nationwide as well as foreign partners who may be following developments with concern. She reassured them that despite the emotional weight of the moment, there remains a viable pathway to resolving the crisis in a manner that reduces national anxiety, prevents further division, and preserves social harmony.
She revealed that she has long been in conversation with critical stakeholders regarding these matters, and affirmed that the time has come for a coordinated South-East-led initiative aimed squarely at securing a political solution.
“I would like to reassure Ndigbo, Nigerians and our foreign partners that there are still prospects of resolving this impasse in a manner that reduces national anxiety and societal trauma,” she noted. “Now is the time for us all in Ala Igbo to put all hands on deck, and to have a joint engagement, sincerely, involving all the South Eastern States.”
Her emphasis on a pan-Igbo strategy highlights the need for cohesion—a sentiment many analysts argue has been missing in recent years, thereby weakening the region’s bargaining power.
As the South-East processes Kanu’s sentencing, tensions remain high, with fears of protests, sit-at-home orders, and potential clashes with security agencies. Bianca Ojukwu’s intervention seeks to de-escalate these tensions and redirect the conversation toward peaceful resolution.
Calling for patience, she urged people to resist actions that may harm the region’s future and further complicate the quest for justice.
“This situation requires careful reflection,” she said, insisting that restraint is not a sign of weakness but a strategic choice to ensure safety and preserve the possibility of a positive outcome.
Her message comes at a time when commentators are warning that Kanu’s conviction could exacerbate insecurity and deepen mistrust between the South-East and the Federal Government if not handled with wisdom.
Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu’s statement stands as a significant intervention at a tense moment for Nigeria. Her call for restraint, unity, and constructive dialogue reflects a growing chorus of voices insisting that only political solutions—not anger or violence—can resolve the complex issues surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s case and the wider grievances of the Igbo people.
As Nigeria watches closely to see how events unfold in the South-East over the coming weeks, her appeal offers a roadmap toward stability, peace, and renewed engagement—an approach consistent with her longstanding advocacy for justice, equity, and national cohesion.
