Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has expressed optimism that Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will soon be released from custody.
Speaking to journalists at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Otti said discussions were ongoing with the presidency toward securing Kanu’s freedom.
“I can assure you that I am engaging with Mr. President. He is favourably disposed to it, and I am certain that in no distant future, Nnamdi Kanu will regain his freedom,” Otti said.
The governor, who noted his longstanding relationship with Tinubu, added, “Mr. President and I have been friends for decades. He is a man of his word—if he intends to do something, he says it; if not, he makes it clear. Having made a promise, I am confident he will honour it.”
Meanwhile, President Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, urged residents of the South-East to remain peaceful and law-abiding as efforts to secure Kanu’s release continue.
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“I appeal to the people of the South-East to unite and remain law-abiding. As your brother, I have heard the messages for Mr. President and the comments from Governor Otti,” Umahi said.
He disclosed that South-East governors, in collaboration with federal lawmakers and ministers from the region, are working towards a political resolution to Kanu’s case.
“I am confident that, given the president’s affection for the South-East, a peaceful resolution will soon be achieved,” Umahi added, urging the region to acknowledge the administration’s inclusive approach to governance.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, following his extradition from Kenya. He is facing terrorism-related charges.
His continued detention has sparked repeated calls for his release from political, religious, and traditional leaders in the South-East, amid growing concerns over his deteriorating health.
Despite several applications by his legal team, the courts have consistently refused to grant him bail or allow him to seek medical treatment outside DSS custody.
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