Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Sunday paid a visit to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, now serving sentencing at the Sokoto Correctional Centre, assuring that efforts to secure his eventual release remain active and ongoing.
The governor was accompanied by Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, the Abia State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN), and his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma.
Officials from the Sokoto State Government were also present during the engagement.
In a statement issued after the visit, Ekeoma said Governor Otti encouraged Kanu to remain hopeful, explaining that discussions he began more than two years ago had gained renewed momentum.
He quoted the governor as saying the matter would be resolved “administratively,” expressing confidence that Kanu would soon regain his freedom.
Sultan’s Role and Kanu’s Reaction
Ekeoma further disclosed that Otti informed Kanu of the Sultan of Sokoto’s willingness to support a peaceful settlement.
In a lighter moment, the governor joked that the Sultan now considered Kanu his “subject” and would have him turbaned, a remark that reportedly made the IPOB leader laugh.
Kanu, described as being in good spirits, expressed gratitude for the governor’s visit. He commended Otti for his development strides in Abia State and urged him to continue delivering good governance. He also offered prayers for the governor and his delegation.
The visit is seen as a morale booster for the incarcerated leader and a signal that the Abia State Government is attuned to the strong support Kanu continues to enjoy among his people.
Reactions and Ongoing Efforts
Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, praised Otti for fulfilling his promise to visit.
“You’re a man of your words and gutsy to boot. May God bless you. And may your august visit to Sokoto today be the first step to ending this undeserved ordeal, sooner than later,” Ejimakor wrote in a Facebook post.
Emmanuel Kanu also hailed the governor’s action, describing it as a “unified statement” by both Abia and Sokoto leaders.
Governor Otti has previously stated that plans were in motion to secure Kanu’s release, noting that he had activated a strategy during the IPOB leader’s trial. His latest visit underscores his continued commitment to that pledge.
Kanu was said to be surprisingly still in cheerful mood, with his spirit unbroken. His lawyers have vowed to appeal his sentencing.
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