Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has spoken publicly on the reasons behind his recent visit to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, held in Sokoto prison.
The governor said the visit was not politically motivated and had nothing to do with any future ambition.
He described the engagement as a personal effort aimed at encouraging dialogue, calm, and peace at a time of rising tensions and public speculation.
Otti made the clarification on Friday at the Government House in Umuahia. He spoke while receiving members of the Abia Diaspora Commission alongside the medical team attached to the state’s Global Medical Mission 2025.
His remarks followed the circulation of a video on social media. In the video, a man openly criticised the governor’s visit to the IPOB leader and questioned his intentions.
Responding to the criticism, Otti said differing views were normal in a democracy. He explained that disagreement did not automatically invalidate the intentions or actions of others.
According to him, the video reflected personal opinions, which citizens were entitled to express.
The governor stressed that his decision to visit Kanu was driven by the need for dialogue and understanding, not politics.
He said meaningful conversations remained essential in addressing sensitive national issues and reducing tension across the country.
Otti also used the opportunity to restate his position on his political future. He said he had no plans to seek any elective office after completing his tenure as governor of Abia State.
“One of the issues he raised in the video was my ambition after serving as governor.
“I have said this before, sometime in October, when we received representatives of the President, and I will say it again today. By the time I complete my tenure as governor, I will retire from public office,” he said.
The governor added that public service should not always be viewed through the lens of political ambition.
He maintained that leaders must sometimes act in the interest of peace and unity, even when such actions are misunderstood.