The Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication and Orientation, has rejected claims that there is no distinction between the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and Yoruba nation activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Dare said there is “no basis for comparison” between the two figures, highlighting fundamental differences in their actions, methods, and consequences.
Distinguishing Kanu and Igboho
Dare argued that Kanu, recently convicted on terrorism charges by a Federal High Court in Abuja and serving a life sentence, engaged in insurrection and armed confrontation against the Nigerian state. He said this campaign led to the deaths of more than 700 people and caused economic paralysis across the South-East.
“Kanu’s IPOB movement involved insurrection, enforcement of sit-at-home orders through threats and violence, attacks on security forces, destruction of public infrastructure, and formation of armed groups such as ESN,” the statement said. “His rhetoric escalated to calls that many viewed as inciting violence against the state and even against his own people in the South-East who defied orders.”
By contrast, Dare said Igboho’s activism focused on defending Yoruba communities against criminal activities, particularly killings, kidnappings, and farm destruction allegedly perpetrated by rogue herders. He highlighted that Igboho pursued peaceful advocacy for a Yoruba nation without establishing militias, ordering attacks on security forces, or imposing paralysing measures like sit-at-home orders.
“The line is clear: one crossed into armed rebellion affecting civilians and the economy, while the other remained largely defensive against perceived external threats without state-targeted insurgency,” Dare stated.
He urged the public to stop equating the two leaders, noting that their contexts, strategies, and outcomes are fundamentally different.
