The 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 remarks on Friday during a one-day official visit to Abia State by President Bola 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, who described Tinubu as a “man of integrity,” also spoke of their long-standing relationship. “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 noted.
Umahi, who represented the president, echoed the call for unity in the region and assured that efforts were ongoing to find a political solution to Kanu’s case.
“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,” he said.
The minister further disclosed that political leaders across the South-East were working together to secure Kanu’s release.
“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,” he stated.
Expressing confidence in the president’s commitment to peace in the region, Umahi added, “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.”
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) raised the alarm over the worsening health condition of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, warning the Nigerian government and its international partners that there would be dire consequences if anything happens to Kanu.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of deliberately endangering Kanu’s life through prolonged detention and poor medical care.
IPOB said the situation had reached a breaking point, warning that “any further deterioration” could spark a crisis with grave consequences for Nigeria and the wider region.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is priceless, and no amount of blackmail, judicial rascality, or DSS-induced health crisis will be tolerated,” the statement read.
IPOB likened the situation to historic global flashpoints, comparing Nigeria’s continued detention of Kanu to the events leading up to the First World War.
