UMUAHIA – Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State has explained that contrary to misconceptions in some quarters, the South East Governors have not abandoned the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, but seriously engaging relevant authorities for his release.
Otti who made the explanation while responding to a question during a media parley Thursday night in Umuahia, however, said that some of the engagements and assurances were not for public assurances.
Recall that Igbo elders from different states in the South East, Wednesday stormed Government House Umuahia to protest Kanu’s continued incarceration, accusing the Governors and Igbo political elite of abandoning him.
They urged Otti to coordinate his brother Governors from the zone and engage President Bola Tinubu, and press for Kanu’s release.
Gov. Otti expressed confidence that the results of the engagements would be positive.
He said:”We have been engaging for the release of Nnamdi Kanu. But the level at which we are engaging; and the discussions that have happened; and the assurances that have been received, are not for public consumption since it may derail the process.
“But you can take it for granted that as his Governor, I’m at the forefront of ensuring that he comes back home. And all the South East Governors are together in it.”
On the frequent bloody communal clashes between Itu community in Arochukwu Local Government Area, and its Cross River neighbours which have forced so many folks to abandon their ancestral homes and seek refuge in other Abia communities, Otti said the State was engaging the Governments if Cross River and Akwa Ibom for a peaceful resolution.
He blamed the clashes on rumoured existence of natural resources in the area, but said efforts were on to re-settle the people in their ancestral homes.
“Concerning the instability and violence in the area, we found out that the major reason for this is unconfirmed reports of the existence of natural resources, particularly limestone in those locations.
” So what we have done is to engage with sister governments – Cross River in particular – and of course there’s also part of our communities whose neighbours from Akwa Ibom are also up in arms with them.
“The Deputy Governor is handling all this by himself. As a matter of fact, he went to Abuja to hold meetings with the deputy governor of those places so that we can bring lasting peace to those communities. So since you are in contact with them, please reassure them that they are not abandoned and that very soon they will return to their ancestral homes.
Otti who said his administration “is intensifying efforts to leave the state better than it met it”, however, said he would not succumb to blackmail but open to constructive criticisms.
He regretted that some persons resort to blackmail and distortion of facts out of ignorance mischief or political but said he was not perturbed.
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