The government of Sokoto State has issued a strong rebuttal to circulating reports suggesting that Governor Ahmed Aliyu joined his colleague from Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, on a visit to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Official Rebuttal and Governor's Whereabouts
In a definitive statement released on Friday, December 6, 2025, the administration clarified the governor's location during the period in question. Abubakar Bawa, the spokesperson for Governor Aliyu, stated categorically that the governor was not in Sokoto on 30th November 2025, the day Dr. Otti made his private visit to the state.
"For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Ahmed Aliyu was in the Holy Land performing Lesser Hajj as of 30th November 2025," the official statement read. This directly contradicts the narrative that the two governors visited the Sokoto Custodial Centre together.
Details of Alex Otti's Sokoto Visit
The government's clarification provided context for Dr. Otti's presence in Sokoto. According to the statement, the Abia State governor was received at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport by a delegation of selected commissioners and special advisers from the Sokoto government.
This delegation then escorted Dr. Otti to the Sokoto Government House, where he was extended the traditional courtesies and hospitality reserved for visiting state governors. "As you all know, the people of Sokoto are hospitable. We treat our visitors with utmost respect, irrespective of tribe or religion," the statement emphasized, framing the visit as a routine diplomatic engagement.
Commitment to National Unity and Rule of Law
In light of the sensitive nature of the claims, the Sokoto State Government used the opportunity to reaffirm Governor Aliyu's constitutional principles. The statement stressed that Governor Ahmed Aliyu holds deep respect for constituted authority and remains steadfastly committed to the Nigerian project.
It further described him as a "peace loving and law-abiding citizen" who continues to uphold the rule of law. This declaration appears aimed at distancing the state's leadership from any perceived association with Kanu's separatist agenda, which is antithetical to national unity.
The need for this official denial arose after Dr. Alex Otti's visit to Nnamdi Kanu generated significant public and media scrutiny. IPOB itself had described the Abia governor's visit as "historic" and "surprising." Dr. Otti was reportedly accompanied during his visit to Kanu by the detainee's younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, the Abia State Attorney General, Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN), and his Special Adviser on Media, Ferdinand Ekeoma.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of Nnamdi Kanu's ongoing legal battles. Following a life imprisonment sentence, Kanu has recently filed a motion at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking a transfer from the Sokoto Custodial Centre. In his application, he argued that detention in Sokoto would impede his ability to properly appeal his conviction.
