Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, has expressed confidence that Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will soon regain his freedom.
Otti made this statement during a one-day official visit to the state on Friday, 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 emphasised his long-standing relationship with Tinubu, describing the president as a man of his word.
Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, Minister Umahi urged residents of the South-East to remain united and peaceful.
“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 assured that efforts were underway by regional leaders to pursue a political solution for Kanu’s case.
Umahi added that the Federal Government, with Tinubu’s support, was committed to addressing the issue of Nnamdi Kanu through peaceful means.
“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.
Nnamdi Kanu, who holds both Nigerian and British citizenship, was first arrested in 2015 on treason charges.
He was later released on bail in 2017 but fled Nigeria during the trial. In 2021, he was arrested in Kenya and controversially extradited to Nigeria.
Kanu’s trial has been repeatedly delayed, with the Federal High Court in Abuja recently dismissing his no-case submission and ordering him to face terrorism charges.
