IPOB escalation avoidable if handled better at inception, says Governor Otti
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) crisis might not have escalated if it had been properly handled at its early stage, stressing that Nigeria is now dealing with the consequences of that failure.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, the governor said the conviction and life imprisonment of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, had caused deep pain across Abia and beyond, but insisted it was not the end of efforts to secure his release.
Otti recalled condemning the 2017 military raid on Kanu’s family home in Afaraukwu, describing it as excessive force that worsened tensions. He noted that leadership should rely on emotional intelligence and dialogue rather than violence.
He disclosed that since December 2023, he had been engaging federal authorities at the highest level on an alternative resolution strategy for the IPOB issue, adding that certain agreements were reached but were dependent on a quick conclusion of Kanu’s trial at the Federal High Court.
“With judgement now delivered, I am confident that the agreed diplomatic resolution will move forward,” he said, revealing that he discussed the strategy with Kanu during a visit to him in DSS custody earlier in the year.
The governor urged residents to avoid actions or statements that could heighten fear or insecurity, cautioning politicians against exploiting Kanu’s situation for political gain.
He expressed optimism that ongoing engagements with the federal government would lead to Kanu’s freedom and restore lasting peace to the South-East.
