I Don’t Have Presidential Ambition – Governor Otti

Abia State governor, Alex Otti, has distanced himself from either presidential, vice presidential or senatorial ambition after leaving office as governor.

Otti stated this in Umuahia, the state capital, while reacting to a viral report where he was berated for visiting the jailed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in Sokoto.

He said he acknowledged that criticism is part of democracy, as everyone is free to hold an opinion, adding that holding a different opinion does not mean one is right.

”In the first place, that is the beauty of democracy. So, people should hold their opinions, and we respect people’s opinions. And that you hold a different opinion doesn’t mean you are right.

”One of the things he talked about was my ambition after being governor. And I had said it before, and I want to say it again, that by the time I’m done with governorship, I will retire.

”I came for a mission. And when I deliver that mission, I will give way to younger people. He was talking of Igbo presidency; I don’t even understand what that means,” he said.

He maintained that if his accuser’s “thesis is based on that assumption”, then the assumption has collapsed because he won’t see him on the ballot.

Otti further noted that it is important for a political officeholder to know when to quit, especially when he has done what he is asked to do.

”When you have done what you have been asked to do, you clear, give way for other people. We’ve seen people here, after serving as governor, who went on to become local government chairmen.

”The second point is about Nnamdi Kanu. And I don’t want to put this matter in the public space so that it doesn’t jeopardise the discussions that I’m having.

‎”And going to see him is the right thing to do because he comes from my state. In fact, he comes from this local government (Umuahia North).”

‎He noted that he had in the past initiated discussions at the highest level on Kanu, believing that there are always ways to solve a problem and not to keep quiet over it.

‎”And I had written extensively, even about Nnamdi Kanu and Operation Python Dance, I think in 2017 or 2018. And I condemned it. I still condemn it. And some of the recordings that the gentleman put in his video, I cannot vouch for the veracity of those recordings.”