By Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano
A video of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, opposing the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has resurfaced online and is generating fresh discussions on social media.
The video clip, taken from an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on October 1, 2017, shows Obi questioning the Federal Government’s decision to designate IPOB as a terrorist organisation.
At the time, Obi, who was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former governor of Anambra State, argued that IPOB members did not fit the description of terrorists.
“The only thing I disagree with is naming IPOB terrorists. They are not terrorists. Those who took the decision may have information that I don’t have,” Obi said during the interview.
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He further stated that, based on his personal experiences in Anambra State, he had not observed IPOB members engaging in activities that posed a threat to public safety.
“I live in Onitsha, and I can tell you they are not terrorists. They are people I pass on the road every day,” he said.
According to Obi, gatherings organized by IPOB members in the state had not resulted in threats, molestation, or violence against residents.
The comments were made shortly after the Federal Government proscribed IPOB in 2017 and designated the separatist movement as a terrorist organisation.
IPOB is a group advocating for the creation of an independent Biafran state from parts of Nigeria’s South-East and South-South regions. The organisation has repeatedly been accused by authorities of involvement in violent attacks and insecurity in parts of the South-East, allegations the group has often denied.
The resurfaced interview comes amid renewed political attention on Obi following his emergence as the presidential candidate of the NDC ahead of the 2027 general election.
The viral clip has reignited public debate over the government’s decision to proscribe IPOB and the broader conversation surrounding security, separatist agitations, and political responses to such movements.
Also referenced in the renewed discussion are comments previously made by Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, who questioned the selective application of proscription measures against various groups operating within the country.
As reactions continue online, Obi’s 2017 remarks remain part of the wider national conversation on security, civil liberties, and the management of separatist movements in Nigeria.