Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, former Governor of Bayelsa State and Chairman of the South-South Senate Caucus, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to initiate a broad political solution that will lead to the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and restore peace in the South East.

In a detailed statement, Dickson said the continued legal approach to separatist agitations across Nigeria has never resolved underlying grievances, noting that similar struggles around the world, including those involving Nelson Mandela and Isaac Adaka Boro, were only resolved through visionary political engagement and national reconciliation.

“We must create a Nigeria that all can trust and believe in,” he said, stressing that arrests, convictions, or executions have historically failed to end political agitations. He cited the Niger Delta peace efforts under Presidents Yar’Adua and Jonathan as an example of successful political intervention.

Dickson called on President Tinubu to act as a statesman by commencing a peace process that would encourage Kanu and his supporters to renounce violence and embrace dialogue. He added that the process should also address historical injustices, structural imbalances, and long-standing grievances across all regions.

Describing restructuring as a long-overdue national imperative, the senator reminded Nigerians that President Tinubu was a frontline advocate of restructuring during his NADECO and Alliance for Democracy days. He pledged his “fullest support” should the President take steps toward building a fairer and more inclusive nation.

He also urged security agencies to treat Kanu humanely and ensure his safety while legal and political processes continue, warning that Nigeria cannot afford new internal conflicts given the pressures of terrorism and banditry in the North.

Calling for calm in the South East, Dickson said he has already begun consultations with lawmakers from the region and across the federation to ensure a coordinated, national approach to peacebuilding.

“I am available for any engagement that can lead to a restructured Nigeria that works for all,” he concluded.