Governor Alex Otti has reacted to the life imprisonment handed down to Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on November 20.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Otti revealed that he had initiated this plan long before the judgment, noting, “While Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is free to appeal his conviction, I’m happy to inform you that I have activated and will continue to work on the already agreed strategy until his freedom is secured.”

He explained that during his visit to Kanu at the Department of State Services (DSS) custody in Abuja, he communicated some of the agreements earlier reached with “the highest authorities” in the country.

Otti faulted the federal government’s early handling of IPOB, saying, “The poor management of the IPOB issue at the incubation stage created the problem we have today, hence we cannot allow it to linger and create a bigger monstrous situation for us.”

He urged politicians not to exploit Kanu’s situation for personal gain, warning, “May I caution politicians who have positioned themselves to play petty and dirty politics with the travails of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to jettison the idea, and rather work with us to secure his freedom.”

Appealing for calm across Abia and the wider South-East, the governor advised residents to avoid inflammatory comments that could destabilise ongoing engagements.

He restated his commitment to working with credible stakeholders nationwide to pursue a peaceful, political resolution, “I’m also happy to collaborate with other well-meaning Nigerians who genuinely want this problem resolved, to push for his freedom through the same diplomacy and dialogue with the federal government… which can courageously and compassionately solve it and take the credit.”

Otti recounted that since 2017, when soldiers invaded Kanu’s family home in Afaraukwu, he had consistently advocated dialogue over force. He referenced his 2017 column titled “Operation Python Dance: Killing a Fly With a Sledge Hammer”, where he condemned the invasion and called for a more intelligent, humane approach.

He added that he had been in active discussions with federal authorities since December 22, 2023, pushing for an alternative resolution strategy tied to the conclusion of the court case.

Expressing optimism, he said: “I am confident that judgment having been delivered, the alternative resolution will now kick in, I do not doubt that with the assurances I have received from the Federal Government, a resolution is in sight and Mazi Kanu will receive his freedom.”

Otti concluded by reaffirming his commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic solution, “Finally, I want to assure our people of my unwavering resolve and commitment to genuinely solving this problem with wisdom, high-level dialogue and diplomacy, with a view to ensuring that genuine peace returns to the South East,” he said.