South East Governors ‘Working Quietly’ to Free Nnamdi Kanu – Gov Otti

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has dismissed claims that South East governors have abandoned detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Speaking during a media parley in Umuahia on Thursday night, Otti insisted that the region’s governors remain united in efforts to secure Kanu’s release, though not all of their interventions can be made public.

“Some of the engagements and assurances we have received are not for public consumption since it may derail the process,” Otti said. “But as his governor, I’m at the forefront of ensuring he comes back home. All the South East governors are together in this.”

His remarks followed a protest on Wednesday by prominent Igbo elders who stormed the Government House in Umuahia, accusing political leaders of neglecting Kanu. They urged Otti to rally his colleagues and press President Bola Tinubu directly on the matter.

Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021 after his arrest and extradition to Nigeria, remains a highly divisive figure. While many in the South East see him as a symbol of their political struggle, the federal government continues to accuse him of treason and incitement through IPOB’s activities.

Otti’s assurance is expected to calm growing agitation in the region, where concerns over Kanu’s fate have sparked protests, security tensions, and renewed debates about the federal government’s handling of the case.