Abia State Governor Alex Otti says his recent visit to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu at the Sokoto Correctional Centre was driven purely by a search for dialogue and peace, not by any future political ambition. He spoke while receiving the Abia Diaspora Commission and Abia Global Medical Mission team in Umuahia, reacting to a viral video accusing him of using the visit to build higher political plans.
Otti said differing opinions are normal in a democracy but insisted that disagreement does not automatically make critics right. He stressed that, as Kanu is from Abia and specifically from Umuahia North Local Government Area, visiting him was the responsible thing for a governor from his home state to do.
The governor restated that he has no intention of contesting any election after completing his tenure. He said that once he finishes his time as governor, he will retire from public office and has no presidential, vice presidential or senatorial ambition.
Otti explained that he came into office with a clear mission and plans to step aside once that mission is delivered, allowing younger people to take over leadership. He criticised a political culture in which some former governors still seek lower offices, saying that is not his approach.
He also revealed that he began high level discussions on Kanu’s case about 24 months ago. According to him, his visit forms part of a long running effort to pursue administrative and dialogue options around the matter, in addition to whatever is happening in court.
Otti said he has consistently opposed Operation Python Dance and violent responses to agitation. He recalled that he wrote articles in 2017 or 2018 condemning the military operation and maintained that two wrongs do not make a right, even when there are allegations about statements made by Kanu.
The governor emphasised that he is not challenging the judiciary and recognises that Kanu’s case is in court, with room for appeals up to the Supreme Court. His own role, he said, is to use the available administrative window to support a peaceful resolution.
Otti argued that most conflicts eventually end at the negotiating table, so leaders should not ignore dialogue while a crisis is ongoing. He described himself as an advocate of talks, not war, and said it would be insensitive to wish death on someone from his state when there is still an opportunity to negotiate.
On wider security issues, he warned that criminals are exploiting national insecurity to attack innocent people. He pledged that his administration will confront violence firmly while still pursuing peace, and that Abia must remain safe for residents and businesses.
The governor called on stakeholders to support dialogue based solutions and stressed that peace is essential for development and progress in the state. He said the goal is to guarantee that people in Abia can move freely and live without fear, unlike in some parts of the country where insecurity has become overwhelming.
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