New information has surfaced regarding the private meeting between Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, and the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
The visit, which took place over the weekend, has now opened fresh conversations about ongoing efforts aimed at securing Kanu’s release.
Governor Otti said the long-standing debate over Kanu’s conviction and freedom “would be resolved administratively,” adding that the process is already in motion.
According to a statement from his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Governor used the visit to brief Kanu on the engagements he has been pursuing since taking office in 2023.
Otti explained that his push for a peaceful resolution has not slowed, despite political tensions surrounding the matter.
The statement noted that “Governor Otti, while discussing with Mazi Kanu during the visit, encouraged him to remain strong, assuring him that the engagements he started over two years ago, which the IPOB leader has been aware of, have been intensified in spite of what happened.”
Ekeoma added that Otti urged Kanu to stay calm and maintain faith in the process, stating that the issue was receiving administrative attention at critical levels.
He expressed confidence that the IPOB leader “will regain his freedom” once the discussions reach their final stage.
The Governor also revealed that the Sultan of Sokoto supported de-escalating tension around the matter.
Otti recounted how the Sultan jokingly told him that since Kanu was in his domain, he was now “his subject” and might even be turbaned, a remark that made Kanu laugh during the meeting.
Kanu, who appeared relaxed throughout the discussion, expressed gratitude for Otti’s sustained support.
He said he was not surprised that the Governor visited, recalling that Otti had shown the same concern in previous years.
He commended the Governor’s projects in Abia and compared his performance to the efforts of the late Sam Mbakwe, whose legacies still stand out decades after he governed the Old Imo State.
Kanu urged Otti to keep prioritising the welfare of the people and prayed for God’s guidance for his administration.
The visit was attended by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN), the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, and some senior officials from the Sokoto State Government. Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, was also present.
In a related development, POLITICS NIGERIA had earlier reported Governor Otti’s repeated calls for a political and administrative approach to matters linked to Kanu’s trial.
Those earlier engagements form part of the wider push that led to this recent high-profile visit in Sokoto.