Abia State Governor Alex Otti has ruled out contesting for the presidency or any other elective office after completing his tenure, saying he intends to retire from politics.
Otti disclosed this during an interview with Arise TV on Friday while responding to questions about former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi’s presidential ambitions and whether he might seek the presidency in the future.
The governor said he had already decided to leave politics after completing his tenure, ruling out any future bid for elective office.
“I had said just a few days ago that by the time I’m done with this, I’ll retire. So I’m not going to run for any other thing, not local government chairman, not Senate, not president, no,” Otti said.
He said his priority was to fulfil what he described as his calling in Abia State before withdrawing from politics.
“I think I came to deliver a calling, and that is what I’m doing now. Once I finish it, I’ll retire. And I’m not getting any younger anymore,” he added.
Otti also dismissed suggestions of a disagreement between him and Obi, saying the former Anambra governor would be allowed to campaign in Abia if he chose to do so.
“Oh, absolutely. Anybody that wants to campaign in my state will be allowed. Peter Obi and I are not fighting. Just like there’s nobody I’m fighting,” he said.
He added that other presidential aspirants, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, would also be free to campaign in the state.
“If he wants to campaign in the state, he will be allowed to campaign. If any other person, even Atiku, if he wants to campaign, he will be allowed to campaign. So that is what democracy is about,” Otti said.
