By Roy Ofori, African Heritage Global Affairs Editor
Hon. Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi, African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chieftain and 2023 Senatorial Candidate for Delta North, has weighed in on the reported peace deal with notorious bandit leader Ado Aleru, urging the Federal Government to adopt a more consistent and holistic approach to national security.
Speaking with African Heritage Global Affairs Editor, shortly after arriving from Turkey on an EU Erasmus program on cultural competency and diplomacy, Gbandi drew from his extensive experience in peace mediation, particularly in conflict-affected areas involving non-state actors. “The internationally recognized 3Rs of Reconciliation, Reintegration, and Reconstruction remain the gold standard for achieving lasting peace,” Gbandi said. “In that sense, the recent peace moves with Ado Aleru could theoretically be part of a conflict de-escalation process.”
But Gbandi was quick to point out the glaring inconsistencies in the government’s approach. “When you place this side by side with the treatment of IPOB and its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, it completely misses the benchmark of fairness, equity, and justice,” he noted. “This selective approach reveals a dangerous double standard. You cannot negotiate with one hand and unleash the full weight of federal power with the other.”
He stressed that leadership in times of crisis is as much about symbolism as it is about policy, reminding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Chief Security Officer of the Federation, of his ultimate responsibility to protect all Nigerians and secure the political space. “Peace negotiations cannot succeed if they are selective and punitive for some and permissive for others. This inconsistency not only undermines trust but also deepens national divisions,” Gbandi warned. He called for a holistic and inclusive peace framework: “What Nigeria urgently needs is a transparent peace process that treats all regions, communities, and stakeholders with equal dignity. Anything less will deepen grievances, prolong insecurity, and continue to erode citizens’ trust in government institutions.”
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