Abia State Governor Alex Otti has clarified that he has no intention of pursuing presidential, vice presidential, or senatorial positions after his tenure as governor ends.
He made this statement in Umuahia, the state capital, while responding to a viral report criticizing him for visiting the jailed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in Sokoto.
Otti acknowledged that criticism is a natural part of democracy, emphasizing that everyone is entitled to their opinions, but holding a different view does not necessarily make one correct.
He said, “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.”
Addressing speculation about his political ambitions, Otti re-emphasized his earlier position, stating, “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 further dismissed assumptions about his future political plans, saying that if his accuser’s thesis is based on such assumptions, then those assumptions have collapsed because he will not be seen on the ballot after his governorship.
Otti emphasized the importance of knowing when to step down from political office, especially after fulfilling one’s mandate.
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