Abia State Governor Alex Otti has assured citizens that he will continue to pursue the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu through dialogue and diplomacy, following the IPOB leader’s conviction and life imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
In a statement issued Friday, Governor Otti described Kanu’s sentencing as a development that has left many in shock and mourning, particularly in Abia and the South East. He recalled the September 2017 military raid on Kanu’s family home in Afaraukwu, Umuahia, calling the operation “avoidable” and insisting that dialogue should have been the preferred method to address IPOB-related grievances.
Otti argued that the mismanagement of the IPOB issue at its early stage created the situation now facing the nation. “Leadership requires emotional intelligence, restraint, and tolerance rather than force and violence,” he said, adding that the nation cannot allow the situation to escalate into a larger conflict.
The governor revealed that he had been engaging federal authorities since December 2023 on an alternative resolution strategy for Kanu’s release. He expressed confidence that the agreements reached with the government will now be implemented following the court’s judgement. “While Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is free to appeal his conviction, I have activated and will continue to work on the already agreed strategy until his freedom is secured,” Otti said.
Governor Otti appealed to the public to remain calm and avoid actions or rhetoric that could exacerbate fear, violence, or insecurity. He also cautioned politicians against exploiting Kanu’s conviction for political gain, urging cooperation toward a peaceful resolution.
Emphasizing dialogue as the most effective path to lasting peace, Otti said, “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.”
The governor’s statement reinforces the position that, despite legal outcomes, engagement, negotiation, and diplomacy remain critical tools in resolving the crisis surrounding Kanu and IPOB, with a broader aim of restoring trust and stability in the region.
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