My 30-Month Job As Governor Has Consolidated Governance In Abia, Otti Says

By Uche Nwosu, Umuahia

Abia State governor, Dr Alex Otti, has said that his 30-month stay in office as a state governor has laid a solid foundation for good governance.

Speaking at the Mater Dei Catholic Cathedral in Umuahia during the Silver Jubilee dedication anniversary of the Cathedral and ordination of 15 young men as Deacons, Otti explained that the strong foundation he has so far laid will stand the rest of time any day.

The ordination of deacons, according to Catholic laws, is a first step on the path to the priesthood for young men.

“All of the things we have done these past 30 months is to restore the dignity and the pride of the Abia man and woman.

“It’s just 30 months. We still have a whole lot to do for our people. And the important thing that we are doing is laying a foundation for good governance so that nobody will depart from it going forward”

“Never again will we go somewhere and then somebody will introduce you as coming from Abia State, and another person will now ask, but what’s wrong with your State? Is it a jinx?

“I’m sure you had that kind of encounter before. But now, if anybody challenges you, you will refer him to what is written in the Bible, Come and see”, he declared.

The governor thanked the church for the overwhelming support, which led to his emergence as governor and used the forum to congratulate the 15 newly ordained Deacons for their dedication and sacrifice in the service to God and humanity.

In his homily, the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty, charged the congregants not to dwell in the past, but to anticipate and celebrate more and more 25 years. He urged them to open their hearts to God so that He would complete what He has started in them.

The representative of the Pontiff described the ceremony as an important milestone for the church and appreciated the beauty of  the Cathedral, even after 25 years of its dedication

Most Rev. Crotty charged the newly ordained Deacons to be servants of all, knowing that they are not called to be served but to serve, and help the Bishop and the priests in the discharge of their duties.

Speaking on behalf of the Conference of Bishops in Nigeria, the Archbishop of the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Lucious Iwejuru Ugorji, congratulated the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Kalu Ukpong, on the celebration and ordination of 15 Deacons.

 He praised Governor Alex Otti for his transformational development and for ensuring that Abia could be different and could attract investors.