Governor Otti of Abia State visits Nnamdi Kanu in Sokoto Prison along with Sultan's advisers

GOVERNOR Alex Otti of Abia State has paid a visit to Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) leader Nnamdi Kanu at Sokoto Prison and assured him of an impending political solution to his situation.

Highly controversial, Mr Kanu, the leader of the separatist group Ipob, has been campaigning for the recreation of the independent republic of Biafra which broke away from Nigeria between July 1967 and January 1970 during the civil war. His campaign, which has led to the phenomenal growth of Ipob, has set him at odds with the Nigerian government who him arrested and put on trial for treason.

While the case was still pending, Mr Kanu was granted bail in April 2017 on health grounds but skipped his bail after flouting the conditions given to him by the court and fled Nigeria. In a dramatic development, in June 2021, Mr Kanu was abducted in Kenya and flown to Nigeria, where he has since been arrayed in court in Abuja, with fresh charges added to the pending ones.

On Thursday November 20, the case finally closed with Justice James Omotosho finding Mr Kanu guilty on all seven counts of terrorism filed against him by the Nigerian government. Delivering his judgment, the judge described Mr Kanu as a terrorist whose actions have led to bloodshed and destabilisation across the southeast geo-political zone.

Mr Kanu has since begun serving his sentence at Sokoto Prison and over the weekend, he received a surprise visit from his state governor. During the visit, Governor Otti said that the debate around the conviction and quest for Mr Kanu's release would be resolved administratively.

He added that he had intensified engagements towards freeing Mr Kanu, a move he initiated quickly after coming to power in 2023. Ferdinand Ekeoma, the governor's spokesperson, said that he had fruitful discussions with Mr Kanu during the visit and a solution to the crisis in on the way.

According to Mr Ekeoma, while discussing with Mr Kanu during the visit, Governor Otti encouraged him to remain strong, assuring him that the engagements he started over two years ago have been intensified in spite of what happened. For his part, Mr Kanu was said to have also commended the governor for his developmental strides in Abia, which he likened to the legacies of the late Sam Mbakwe, of the old Imo State.

Mr Ekeoma said:  “The Governor enjoined Kanu to remain calm but strong, assuring that the issue will be resolved administratively and that he, Mazi Kanu, will regain his freedom. Governor Otti expressed joy that the Sultan of Sokoto is on the same page with him on the need for Kanu’s freedom and de-escalation of tension and informed Mazi Kanu that the Sultan of Sokoto had, on a lighter note, told him that Kanu is now his subject and he was going to turban him, information that got the Ipob leader laughing loudly.

“Kanu, who was beaming with smiles and in high spirits, thanked Governor Otti for the visit and stated that he wasn’t surprised that the governor quickly came visiting because he had done the same thing in the past. He told the governor that he is very proud of his giant strides in Abia based on the feedback he gets from home about the state since he assumed office, a feat he said is replicating what the late Dee Sam Mbakwe did as governor of old Imo State, which has kept him permanently immortalised and called on the governor to continue to serve the people diligently."

Governor Otti was accompanied on the visit by his attorney-general and commissioner for justice Ikechukwu Uwanna, Mr Ekeoma and some top Sokoto State government officials, including commissioners and advisers. Mr Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, was also present during the visit.