Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has expressed optimism that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, will soon regain his freedom.
Otti made the remark on Friday during a one-day official visit to the state by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.
“I can assure you that I am engaging with Mr. President. He is favourably disposed to it, and I am sure that in no distant future, Nnamdi Kanu will regain his freedom,” Otti said.
The governor described his long-standing relationship with President Tinubu, whom he praised as a man of integrity and commitment.
“Mr. President and I have been friends for decades. Whatever he wants to do, he will tell you, and if he will not, he will say so. Having made promises, I am sure he will keep them,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, Minister of Works David Umahi urged residents of the South-East to remain peaceful and united.
“I ask the people of the South-East to unite and come together. As your brother, I have listened to the messages for Mr. President and the comments of the governor of Abia State,” Umahi said.
He revealed that discussions were ongoing among regional leaders to pursue a political solution to Kanu’s case.
“I want to assure Senator Abaribe and Governor Otti that the governors of the South-East are working very seriously. They are exploring a political solution together with our senators, House of Representatives members, and ministers,” Umahi stated.
According to him, President Tinubu is committed to resolving the matter through peaceful means.
“I am confident that with the love of the president for the South-East, a peaceful resolution will come to pass. But we must remain law-abiding, appreciative, and recognise that this president has placed the South-East at the centre of national activities,” he added.
Nnamdi Kanu, who holds both Nigerian and British citizenship, was first arrested in 2015 on treason charges and later granted bail in 2017 before fleeing Nigeria. In 2021, he was rearrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria, where he has since faced terrorism charges.
His trial, marked by multiple delays, recently saw the Federal High Court in Abuja dismiss his no-case submission, ordering him to face trial. His lawyers have since raised concerns over his health, requesting his transfer to the National Hospital in Abuja for proper medical attention.
Governors from the South-East have continued to push for Kanu’s release as part of broader efforts to ease regional tension.
On behalf of President Tinubu, Umahi also inaugurated the newly remodelled Dr. Michael Okpara Auditorium and several completed road projects executed by Governor Otti’s administration in Abia State.
