In the wake of the Federal High Court’s life sentence handed down to Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Abia State Governor Alex Otti has announced the activation of a high-level diplomatic and political strategy aimed at securing the IPOB leader’s freedom.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Thursday, November 20, 2025, convicting Kanu on terrorism-related charges—a ruling that has sparked concern across Abia State and the wider South-East region.
Governor Otti: Political Dialogue Remains Essential
In a statement released through his media adviser, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti stated that he had engaged federal authorities prior to the conclusion of the trial and is now intensifying efforts following the court’s verdict.
“While Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is free to appeal his conviction, I am pleased to inform the public that I have activated and will continue to execute the agreed strategy until his freedom is secured,” Otti said.
The governor highlighted that during an earlier visit to Kanu at the Department of State Services (DSS), he communicated a political and diplomatic resolution framework to “the highest authorities” in the country, emphasizing negotiation over coercion.
Otti criticised what he described as the federal government’s mishandling of the IPOB issue during its early stages, which, in his view, allowed tensions to escalate into the present crisis.
“The poor management of the IPOB issue at the incubation stage created the problem we have today; hence, a deliberate, peaceful resolution is imperative to prevent a larger, more complex situation,” the governor stated.
Appeal for Calm and Responsible Political Conduct
Governor Otti urged politicians against exploiting Kanu’s conviction for partisan purposes, while calling on residents of Abia State and the broader South-East to remain calm, avoid inflammatory rhetoric, and support ongoing diplomatic initiatives.
He recalled his consistent advocacy for dialogue, including his 2017 condemnation of the military’s Operation Python Dance, describing it at the time as an excessive use of force.
Otti further noted that engagements with federal authorities since December 2023 had produced preliminary agreements contingent on the swift conclusion of the trial, which he now seeks to advance.
“I have no doubt that, with assurances received from the Federal Government, a resolution is in sight and Mazi Kanu will regain his freedom,” he said, reaffirming his commitment to a peaceful, negotiated solution aimed at restoring stability to the South-East.
