Abia State Governor Alex Otti has announced that he will not seek any political office after his current tenure ends, stating that he wants to step aside and allow younger Nigerians to assume leadership roles. The governor made this declaration on Thursday in Umuahia, the state capital, during a speech on good governance.
Governor Otti's Retirement Declaration
Otti said his decision to exit politics is a deliberate choice rooted in his belief that Nigeria needs a generational shift in leadership. He emphasized that he has no interest in extending his political career, including a possible Senate seat.
"Once I finish this one, I will retire. Why do I say so? I want the young people to take over," Otti said. He also dismissed any suggestion that he might seek a Senate seat after leaving office, saying, "I keep saying it, I'm not interested in anything else. I don't even want to go to the Senate. I'm not interested."
Rejecting Godfatherism
Beyond announcing his retirement, Otti was firm about the kind of leader he does not want to become. He ruled out any desire to function as a political godfather or use his influence to control future political outcomes in Abia State.
"I don't want to be a godfather. And I don't tolerate godfathers," he stated. The governor argued that citizens who have experienced good governance will naturally resist attempts to drag them back to poor leadership. He assured those worried about a political reversal after his tenure, saying, "So, if you are afraid that we will go back to Egypt, it will never happen. We will all sit down, look at everybody and say, who is the best person for this job? And all of us will agree, and we will campaign for him; he will win. We will take a back seat."
A Push for Younger Leadership
Otti criticized the tendency of political figures to cling to power and called for a culture in which leaders willingly make way for a new generation. He said, "We should stop this sit-tight; it's only you. Not only you, it also can't be only you. There are smarter, more trained, better trained, better equipped younger people. Our children, we need to give them opportunities."
He also pointed to good governance as the most valuable thing a leader can offer, stating, "The most important thing you can give a people is good governance."
Political Context and Reactions
Otti's remarks come amid political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections. The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Otti of playing a double game over the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu. President Tinubu is a chieftain of the APC, while Otti is a member of the Labour Party (LP).
Otti's declaration signals a clear stance on his political future, but his influence and legacy in Abia State remain subjects of ongoing political discourse as the next election cycle approaches.
