Abia state Governor, Dr. Alex Otti OFR, has assured that with the conclusion of the Supreme Court judgment, his administration is committed to focusing on addressing and improving the challenges confronting the state.
Governor Otti gave the assurance at the 3rd Quinquennial Session of Eastern Union Conference, held at the Headquarters of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Ahiaba Umueze in Osisioma LGA.
The Governor said one of the major reasons he contested election is the genuine concern for the development of the state and the desire to eradicate the shame of being referred to as an Abian due to the state’s perceived deterioration.
He recalled that a lot of people confronted him over the rot in the state prior to his election as Governor, noting that people would dismiss you anytime Abia was mentioned.
“Not too many people like us contest election because we are not politicians. By the way, when people say they are politicians,I ask them what they were doing before 1999, that means they were jobless.
“So one of the major reasons that made me contest is because of the shame that I have. I am somebody that have shame.
“Pastor Lazarus Nwaezuoke (Adventist Cleric) told us as we were growing up that we should not have anything to do with a man that doesn’t have shame.
“I am a man that have shame and anytime that I went out, people ask if Abia is jinxed. It is the shame that made me come out to contest election. Anytime Abia was mentioned, people will dismiss you.
“Now that the storm is over, we will invite people to come and see Abia“, Governor Otti said.
The Governor while emphasizing that all power belongs to God, thanked God for fulfilling his words by granting him victory at the Apex Court.
Governor Otti recalled that he was unperturbed even when people were panicking over the outcome of the judgement adding that he anchored his faith on Jeremiah 1:9 and Jeremiah 15:20.
He counseled Christians to lay their burdens on God who he said, will perfect all that concerns them.
Governor Otti thanked the church for the prayers and support for his adminstration and enjoined them to continue in the same vein.
He noted that one cannot achieve anything meaningful without unity and advised them not to do things that would disunite the church.
Preaching a sermon on the topic; “Chosen for Mission, embracing unity and purposeful year”, the West Central African Division President of the SDA, Pastor Robert Ossei-Bonsu emphasized that the lives of Christians should convey a meaningful message to the world.
The man of God highlighted the divine calling for the church to fulfill the mission of reaching out to the world, recruiting, and baptizing all people and stressed the importance of the church moving forward in unity, which aligns with God’s expectations.
