Governor Alex Otti says his visit to Nnamdi Kanu was for peace and dialogue, not politics, dismissing claims of presidential ambition and reaffirming his commitment to security in Abia. Otti Kanu Visit.
Otti Kanu visit was motivated by dialogue and peace, not political ambition, Abia State Governor Alex Otti has said.
Speaking on Friday at the Government House, Umuahia, during a visit by the leadership of the Abia Diaspora Commission and the medical team of the Abia Global Medical Mission 2025, Otti reacted to a viral video criticising his recent visit to the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
The governor said the criticism reflected differing opinions inherent in a democratic society, noting that disagreement did not automatically make one position right.
Defending his action in Otti Kanu visit, Alex Otti said his visit to Kanu was informed by the need for dialogue and peaceful engagement, not by any political calculation.
He also categorically ruled out seeking any elective office after completing his tenure as governor.
“One of the issues he raised in the video was my ambition after serving as governor,” Otti said.
“I have said it before and I will say it again: by the time I complete my tenure as governor, I will retire from public office.
“I have no presidential ambition, no vice-presidential ambition, and no senatorial ambition. I came into this office on a mission, and when I deliver that mission, I will step aside and give room to younger people.”
Otti Kanu Visit – he dismissed claims linking his actions to an “Igbo presidency,” describing such arguments as baseless and founded on false assumptions.
“If the argument is based on that assumption, then it has already collapsed because you will not see my name on any ballot,” he said.
“It is important to know when to quit. When you have completed your assignment, you clear the way for others.”
The governor revealed that he initiated high-level discussions on Kanu’s situation about two years ago, explaining that his visit was consistent with those efforts.
“Exactly 24 months ago, I initiated discussions at the highest level regarding Nnamdi Kanu,” he said.
“So visiting him was the right thing to do because he is from my state and indeed from Umuahia North Local Government Area.”
Otti reiterated his long-standing condemnation of Operation Python Dance, stating that he had publicly criticised the military operation in his writings in 2017 and 2018.
He maintained that while Kanu’s matter was before the courts, there was also room for administrative intervention, stressing that dialogue did not equate to support for Nigeria’s disintegration. Otti Kanu visit.
“There are always ways to solve problems, and ignoring a problem is not a solution,” he said.
“When an issue has been approached legally, there is also an administrative window.
“I am not competent to challenge the judiciary, but there is room for appeal and due process.”
The governor said he had consistently opposed violent agitation, arguing that conflicts ultimately ended through negotiation rather than warfare, and that Otti Kanu visit is action in the right direction.
“I have never seen a war that did not end in negotiation,” he said.
“So why start a war when you will still end up talking?”
Otti added that his engagement was aimed at peaceful resolution and intervention, not endorsement of violence or secessionist agendas.
Turning to security, the governor warned that criminal elements had exploited insecurity across the country to attack innocent citizens, assuring that his administration would confront violence firmly while pursuing peace responsibly.
“We will continue to do everything possible to ensure peace in this state,” he said.
“If anyone brings violence, we will meet them firmly, but we must act responsibly as a government.”
Otti Kanu Visit. He reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining Abia as a safe and stable environment for residents and businesses, urging stakeholders to support dialogue-driven solutions as a foundation for development and progress.
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