Former Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has expressed displeasure over the conviction and sentencing of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu over terrorism.

Speaking through his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, in Abuja on Thursday, Abaribe said the outcome did not come as a surprise.

The lawmaker stated that the life sentence handed down to Kanu had long been anticipated, describing it as an outcome many people had predicted.

He said the concerns raised by various leaders during Kanu’s trial indicated that the final judgment was foreseeable.

Abaribe recalled earlier appeals for the Federal Government to consider extending amnesty to Kanu in line with measures granted to other groups in the past, adding that the refusal to consider such pleas made Thursday’s judgment expected.

“Many Nigerians had observed the contrast between engagements with armed groups in the North-East and North-West, as well as amnesty programmes in the South-South. This has led to concerns about fairness and equal treatment,” he noted.

According to him, while the development was disappointing to many, he urged people to remain calm and continue to hope for a justice system that commands broad confidence.

He further maintained that the matter now rests with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing optimism that the President would consider national unity and inclusion in any further decisions.

“We must remain calm and pray. May Nigeria succeed, thrive and advance in justice, equity and fairness,” he added.