“I’ll retire” — Alex Otti says as he rejects godfatherism in politics

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said he does not intend to pursue another political office after completing his tenure as governor, declaring that he wants younger people to take over leadership.

Otti made the remarks while speaking about his administration’s approach to governance and the need to develop a new generation of leaders.

The governor said good governance gives citizens a strong reason to demand continuity and resist a return to what he described as the “Egypt” of the past.

“The most important thing you can give a people is good governance. And once people take good governance, it will be very difficult. You probably will need to kill them for them to allow you to take them back.

“So if you are afraid that we will go back to Egypt, it will never happen.”

Otti also said he was determined to ensure that his successor performs better than he does, stressing that he does not want to become a political godfather.

“So what I can assure you is that by the time I’m done, the person that will succeed me will be better than me,” he said.

The governor added, “I don’t want to be a godfather. And I don’t tolerate godfathers.”

According to Otti, he is prepared to reject proposals he believes will not work, regardless of the pressure surrounding such decisions.

He said, “If you bring something that does not work, I will say no. I’m not afraid to say no.”

Otti further pointed to the state’s Leadership Academy as part of efforts to prepare young people for future leadership positions.

He said the programme had recently graduated 1,080 young people between the ages of 16 and 25, describing them as smart and capable of taking over from the current generation.

“These are the people that will take over from us. And they are being trained now for tomorrow,” he said.

The governor said the process of selecting his successor should be based on merit rather than personal loyalty, adding that stakeholders would support the person considered most suitable for the job.

“But we will all sit down, look at everybody, and say who is the best person for this job. And everyone of us will agree,” Otti said.

He added that they would campaign for the chosen candidate, after which those currently in leadership would step aside.

“We will campaign for him. He will win. We will take a back seat,” he said.

Otti also dismissed speculation that he would seek a seat in the Senate after leaving the governorship.

“I don’t even want to go to Senate. I’m not interested. Once I finish this one, I will retire,” he said.

Explaining his decision, the governor said his priority was to create room for younger people to assume leadership.

“I want the young people to take over,” he said.

Watch the video here…

“The most important thing you can give your people is good governance. If you’re afraid we will go back to Egypt, it will never happen. By the time I’m done, the person who succeeds me will be better than me. I don’t tolerate godfatherism; I don’t want to be a godfather.”

— Abia… pic.twitter.com/cMLw8ns85V

— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) September 17, 2026