Alex Otti Gives Fresh Update on Political Future, Says He Will Retire After Tenure

• Abia State Governor Alex Otti has said he will retire from active politics after completing his tenure, ruling out a Senate bid and saying he wants younger Nigerians to take over leadership.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has announced that he plans to retire from active politics after completing his tenure, saying he wants younger Nigerians to have the opportunity to take over leadership.

Otti made the declaration on Thursday in Umuahia while speaking about good governance, leadership succession and his plans for the future.

The governor also ruled out seeking another elective position after his tenure, including a seat in the Senate.

“Once I finish this one, I will retire. Why do I say so? I want the young people to take over,” Otti said.

He stressed that good governance should remain the priority of any administration, arguing that citizens who experience effective leadership would be reluctant to return to what he described as the old order.

“The most important thing you can give a people is good governance,” he said.

Otti also rejected the idea of becoming a political godfather after leaving office, saying he would rather step aside and allow the people to determine who should succeed him.

“I don’t want to be a godfather. And I don’t tolerate godfathers,” he said.

According to the governor, the process of choosing his successor should involve considering the available candidates and supporting the person considered most suitable for the job.

“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,” Otti said.

He reiterated that he was not interested in continuing his political career through another elective office.

“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,” he said.

Otti said his decision was driven largely by his desire to create opportunities for younger people to assume leadership positions.

He criticised what he described as a “sit-tight” approach to political leadership, arguing that younger Nigerians should be allowed to contribute their skills and experience to governance.

“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 said.

The governor has previously expressed a similar position about leaving active politics after his governorship. Recent reports also indicate that he has said he would not impose a successor or remain behind the scenes as a political godfather after leaving office.

For now, Otti says his focus remains on completing his tenure in Abia State, after which he intends to step away from active politics and make room for a younger generation of leaders.