Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has said that he strongly believes that the issue of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, was poorly managed at the incubation stage, which led to the escalation of the problem.
He, however, assured that the problem cannot be allowed to linger and create a bigger monstrous situation for the country, stressing that the life imprisonment of the leader of the IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, over terrorism-related offences, is not yet the end of the road for him.
Otti stated that the development has broken lots of people and created an atmosphere of shock and sorrow in Abia State and beyond.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, the governor noted that he condemned the soldiers’ invasion and destruction of properties in Kanu’s family house in 2017 and advised that dialogue be explored as the best approach to resolving the IPOB issue.
He said, “Eight days after that military onslaught at Afaraukwu Umuahia, specifically on September 25, 2017, I wrote a piece on my Thisday column captioned ‘Operation Python Dance: Killing a Fly with a Sledgehammer’.” I condemned that invasion and the killings that followed once again and offered extensively well-thought-out views and suggestions I felt could help de-escalate tension and unite the nation if the then federal government was willing to pay attention to those views.
“This is because I recognise that leadership requires emotional intelligence, restraint and tolerance rather than force and violence.
“I still strongly believe that the poor management of the IPOB issue at the incubation stage created the problem we have today; hence, we cannot allow it to linger and create a bigger monstrous situation for us.
“While the trial that led to this conviction lasted, I personally engaged the authorities at the highest level, starting from December 22, 2023, on an alternative resolution strategy. I must state that some agreements were made which were dependent on quick dispensation of the matter at the Federal High Court.
“Unfortunately, the matter dragged until this time. I am confident that judgement having been delivered, the alternative resolution will now kick in. It is instructive that this strategy was explained to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu when I visited him while he was in the DSS custody earlier in the year.
“While Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is free to appeal his conviction, I’m happy to inform you that I have activated and will continue to work on the already agreed strategy until his freedom is secured. I’m also happy to collaborate with other well-meaning Nigerians who genuinely want this problem resolved, to push for his freedom through the same diplomacy and dialogue with the federal government, which, though it did not create the problem, can courageously and compassionately solve it and take the credit.”
The Governor urged the people to refrain from utterances and actions capable of stoking fear, violence and insecurity and that may negatively affect the outcome of the engagements with the authorities.
“I have no doubt that with the assurances I have received from the federal government, a resolution is in sight and Mazi Kanu will receive his freedom.
“May I also caution politicians who have positioned themselves to play petty and dirty politics with the travails of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to jettison the idea and rather work with us to secure his freedom.
“I want to assure our people of my unwavering resolve and commitment to genuinely solving this problem with wisdom, high-level dialogue and diplomacy, with a view to ensuring that genuine peace returns to the South East.”
