Every society gets the kind of leadership it deserves – Gov. Otti
Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, has said that every society gets the kind of leadership it deserves. The Governor made the statement on Sunday, 8th December, at the Holy Ghost Day Bible Church, Amuzukwu, Umuahia North LGA.
In his words, “I also do know that no society can be better than the leadership. And there is a saying that every society gets the kind of leadership that it deserves. People will argue but that is true because whatever you don’t allow will not happen. So if you allow it and you align, it will happen to you and you will be reduced to that level”.
The Governor said that Abia was not in dearth of leadership having produced leaders like Dr. Michael Opara, Aguiyi Ironsi who was once Nigeria’s President no matter how short his tenure was, even a leader like Dee Sam Mbakwe, though not from Abia but was Governor of old Imo State which Abia was part of.
Governor Otti recalled how Abia was a laughing stock in the past and how Abians were quickly dismissed whenever good governance was mentioned and categorized as a people under spell. Speaking further, he said that it got to a point where some Abians were ashamed to identify as Abians, hence, people decided to give up their illustrious jobs to walk the murky waters of Nigeria’s politics to salvage the shameful situation.
“Before the advent of this administration, our State was a laughing stock. I do know some of our brothers who when they were introduced as Abians will make attempts to deny it. You may not have seen it but I saw it”.
“This place was described as a dustbin. But, I know that we had more potential than that.”
So, that is why we offered ourselves to serve. It is said that it is not good for the elder to stay at home and watch the goat deliver her baby tied to a rope.
Speaking further, Governor Otti said that those who stay and watch things go wrong and do nothing are either cowards or conspirators.
“We took the battle in 2015, 2019 and by God’s grace 2023 it happened. It was not as if Abia people didn’t vote for us then, I won the 2 elections but they were stolen”.
The Governor said that those who once laughed at Abia in the past concluding that nothing good can come out of the State have now changed their orientation about the State, seeing what his administration has done in just 18 months.
“They ain’t seen nothing yet, it’s just 18 months” Dr Otti asserted.
Governor Otti thanked the church for their continued support during and after electioneering when victory finally came in 2023. He specially thanked the Arch Bishop of the Holy Ghost Day Bible Church, Rev Chikezie Elekwa, who is also the president of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Abia State for making his Church and Office available for engaging with the Christian community and for insisting that he heard God clearly that Governor Otti was coming.
Arch. Bishop Chikezie Elekwa commended Governor Otti for his visible achievements in the State. In his sermon titled “The Church and Christmas”, the Arch Bishop said although Christmas was not observed by the early church and there was no biblical proof that Jesus was born on December 25th, it was all about remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ. He said that Christmas is not a time to waste life time savings, not a time to engage in superfluous frivolities and compete with others but a time to reflect on the life of Christ, help the needy and be mindful that after Christmas, life continues.
He led the Church to a fervent prayer for the Governor, his entourage and the State.
The Governor was joined in the worship service by his wife, Her Excellency, Mrs, Priscilla Chidimma Otti, the Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Okezie Nmeregini, Hon. Chinasa Anthony Abiola, representing Umuahia Central State Constituency, the Mayor of Umuahia North, Hon. Smart Ihuoma, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu and other top government officials.
