Dele Farotimi: Nnamdi Kanu Was ‘110% Correct’ About Nigeria

Human rights lawyer and political activist Dele Farotimi has said recent events in Nigeria have strengthened his belief that detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu was right in his criticisms of the Nigerian state.

Farotimi made the claim in a video shared on X on Wednesday, arguing that the government’s handling of insecurity, political dissent and systemic problems had validated some of the concerns raised by Kanu during his agitation for self-determination.

He said he could not identify any argument against what he described as the facts presented by Kanu in his criticism of Nigeria. Farotimi went further, saying his assessment had become even stronger with developments in the country.

“Nigeria has proven Nnamdi Kanu right at every point. I have no single argument against the facts that have been adduced by Nnamdi Kanu in his agitation against the Nigerian state, not one.”

Farotimi said he was now convinced that Kanu was “110% correct” in his assessment of Nigeria, pointing to what he described as a troubling contrast between the continued detention of Kanu and the freedom enjoyed by people accused of serious crimes.

He argued that the government’s failure to address what he considers deep-rooted problems, while dealing harshly with some dissenting voices, could fuel greater instability. Farotimi warned that ignoring what he called rational criticism could create an environment where more extreme forms of agitation emerge.

“If it does not listen to rational voices, it becomes inevitable that more extreme voices will be spoken in the language that Nigeria understands.”

The activist said he had previously engaged with separatist movements and their supporters in different parts of Nigeria, including the South-East and South-West. His latest comments come amid continued debate over Kanu’s detention, separatist agitation and the government’s broader approach to national security and political dissent.