Abia State Governor Alex Otti has reaffirmed that he will step away from active politics once his tenure ends, insisting that he harbors no plans to seek the presidency, vice presidency, or a seat in the Senate.

The governor made the clarification while responding to a viral video that criticized his recent visit to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the Sokoto Correctional Centre. In the video, the speaker alleged that the visit was driven by a hidden plan to pursue higher political office after Otti leaves Government House.

According to the governor, such claims are misplaced. He stressed that differing views are natural in a democratic system, but not every opinion is grounded in fact.

“Divergence of opinion is part of democracy,” Otti said. “Everyone is free to hold an opinion. However, holding an opinion does not automatically make it correct.”

His response was conveyed in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma.

In the statement, Otti reiterated that his position on retirement from politics has not changed. He said he has made it clear on several occasions that his political journey will end with his governorship.

“One of the issues raised was my ambition after serving as governor,” he said. “I have said it before, and I will say it again. When I finish my tenure as governor, I will retire.”

He added that he has no interest in contesting for president or vice president, and will not seek a senatorial seat after leaving office. According to him, his decision is rooted in a clear sense of purpose.

“I came on a mission. When that mission is completed, I will step aside and allow younger people to take over,” he said.

Otti also dismissed suggestions that his actions were linked to a broader debate about an Igbo presidency, noting that such assumptions had no bearing on his personal plans.

“If that argument is built on the idea that I will be on the ballot in the future, then it collapses completely,” he said. “I will not be on any ballot.”

The governor emphasized that knowing when to leave office is an important part of leadership. He warned against the culture of clinging to power or recycling political offices without clear purpose.

“When you have done what you were elected to do, you should exit and create space for others,” Otti said. “We have seen people who returned to much smaller offices after being governor. That is not what we are here for.”

Meanwhile, Otti also used the opportunity to explain the reasoning behind his visit to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, who is currently detained at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

He said discussions around Kanu’s situation did not begin with the visit, noting that he had initiated dialogue at the highest level about the matter roughly two years ago. According to him, engaging Kanu was both appropriate and necessary, given that Kanu hails from Umuahia North Local Government Area in Abia State.

“There are different ways to resolve a problem,” the governor said. “Ignoring it is not one of them.”

Otti recalled that he had previously spoken out against military operations such as Operation Python Dance, which he condemned in earlier writings. While distancing himself from some of the allegations circulating in the viral video, he maintained that injustice cannot be corrected by further wrongdoing.

“Two wrongs do not make a right,” he said.

The governor further explained that beyond legal proceedings, there are administrative and political avenues for conflict resolution. He noted that legal cases often pass through several stages, including appeals, and do not always end at the court of first instance.

“I am not a lawyer,” Otti said. “But even a life sentence does not automatically mean the end of the road. There are legal processes, and there are also opportunities for dialogue.”

He made it clear that his intervention is not rooted in any separatist agenda, stressing that he does not support the breakup of Nigeria. Instead, he described his efforts as a push for peace, reconciliation, and humane consideration.

“It would be insensitive to simply sit back and wish death on someone when there is room to discuss, negotiate, and seek peace,” Otti said. “Even those sentenced to death can receive pardons. That is the path I am exploring.”

In closing, the governor rejected attempts to link his actions to political ambition, insisting that not every public decision is driven by electoral calculations.

“Everything is not politics,” he said.