Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has explained the reason behind his recent visit to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently serving a jail term in Sokoto.

Governor Otti made the clarification on Friday while receiving the leadership of the Abia Diaspora Commission alongside the medical team of the state’s Global Medical Mission 2025 at the Government House in Umuahia. He stressed that the visit was not motivated by political ambition.

The governor’s remarks followed a viral social media video in which an individual criticised his visit to Kanu, suggesting ulterior political motives.

Defending his action, Otti stated that the visit was driven purely by the need to encourage dialogue and promote peace, noting that such engagements are necessary in addressing sensitive national issues.

He added that the criticism reflected differing opinions, which are normal in a democratic society, emphasizing that disagreement does not automatically make one viewpoint superior to another.

Governor Otti further dismissed speculations about future political ambitions, stating clearly that he has no plans to contest any election after completing his tenure as governor.

“One of the issues raised in the video was my supposed ambition after serving as governor,” Otti said.
“I have stated this before, including in October when we received representatives of the President, and I will repeat it today: once I complete my tenure as governor, I will retire from public office.”