ABIA – The Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has urged Residents of the State to remain calm and hopeful following the conviction and sentencing of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, noting that the development although painful, is not the end.
Governor Otti in a statement he personally signed and made available to the public, acknowledged the emotional impact of the judgment on Abia Residents and the Igbo community at large.
The Governor recalled that he had in September 2017, strongly condemned the invasion of the home town of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by Nigerian soldiers leading to the destruction of property and loss of lives, where he equally appealed that dialogue should henceforth be explored as the best approach to resolving the IPOB issue.
The Governor equally referenced a column he wrote eight days after the Afaraukwu military incursion, titled, “Operation Python Dance: Killing a Fly With a Sledge Hammer,” in which he again condemned the incident and offered alternative approaches to de-escalate the situation.
According to Governor Otti, the mishandling of the IPOB matter at its initial stage contributed significantly to the current situation, adding that the matter should not be allowed to linger and create a bigger monstrous situation for the south East.
The Governor revealed that he had, since December 2023, been engaging the Federal Government on a diplomatic resolution strategy for Kanu’s case, adding that some agreements had been reached, contingent on the conclusion of the court process.
The State Chief Executive while acknowledging Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s right to appeal the judgment, assured Abians that diplomatic engagements were already underway to secure his release, pointing out that he will continue to work on the already agreed strategy until his freedom is secured.
Governor Otti further called on Residents to remain peaceful and avoid inflammatory remarks or actions capable of heightening tension.
The Governor also issued a stern warning to politicians attempting to exploit the situation for political gains, and urged them to support efforts geared towards securing Kanu’s release, reassuring Abians of his unwavering resolve and commitment to genuinely solving the problem with wisdom, high level dialogue and diplomacy, with a view to ensuring that genuine peace returns to the South East.
It will be recalled that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday last week found Abia-born Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu guilty of terrorism-related offences and subsequently sentenced him to life imprisonment, a verdict that has sparked widespread grief and shock across the South-East.
