Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has announced that he will retire from active politics after completing his tenure, saying younger Nigerians should be given the opportunity to take over leadership.
Gatekeepers News reports that Otti made the declaration on Thursday in Umuahia, the state capital, while speaking on the importance of good governance and the need to create opportunities for younger people to assume leadership positions.
“Once I finish this one, I will retire. Why do I say so? I want the young people to take over,” Otti said.
According to the governor, good governance is the most important thing that can be provided to citizens, adding that people who experience effective leadership would resist any attempt to return to poor governance.
“The most important thing you can give a people is good governance,” he said.
Otti also ruled out becoming a political godfather after leaving office, saying he had no interest in controlling the affairs of his successors.
“I don’t want to be a godfather. And I don’t tolerate godfathers,” he said.
The governor said that once citizens experienced good governance, they would collectively determine who was best suited to lead them rather than return to what he described as the old order.
“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 also ruled out pursuing a Senate seat after his tenure, saying he was not interested in extending his political career.
“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 by his desire to see younger people take up leadership roles.
He called for an end to what he described as the practice of political leaders remaining in power indefinitely, arguing that younger Nigerians had the skills and training needed to contribute 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,” Otti said.
