Governor Alex Otti of Abia State on Thursday night gave a detailed account of his journey into politics, saying that his decision to serve God sustained him through life-threatening political challenges.
Mr Otti spoke at the “Abia Solemn Assembly and Covenant Renewal Service” in Umuahia, organised by the Abia State Government, with the theme, “Remembering the Covenant”.
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He took time to give a vivid account of a fatal attack he described as an “assassination attempt” on him.
He said that a friend recently reminded him of events surrounding his journey in politics, particularly an incident in July 2015, which, according to him, could have claimed his life.
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Mr Otti recalled that he contested the 2015 governorship election and went to the tribunal to challenge the result when the victory was awarded to the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Okezie Ikpeazu.
He said he was in Abuja trying to hold a meeting with someone, who repeatedly shifted the dates, until the meeting still did not take place.
Mr Otti said he subsequently informed his friends that he would leave Abuja the next day, despite their objections, since the meeting had not been held.
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“There was only one flight from Abuja to Owerri then.
“All my friends objected. I said, well, I have received a message that I must leave Abuja.
“So, to make it make sense, I told them I wanted to be at the tribunal on Friday, so they grudgingly accepted.
“That night, assassins attacked my residence in Abuja, shot two policemen dead, and they were looking for me.
“Of course, God had taken me away,” he said.
Mr Otti said the attackers, after failing to find him, apparently believed he was still within the premises and proceeded to search the adjoining compound.
He said, “When they finished and couldn’t find me. They were convinced I was there.
“They had so much time. By the way, this was Maitama.
“They jumped into the next compound, and I learnt that they were up to 12.
“They jumped into the next compound and stripped the whole building.”
Reflecting on the incident, Mr Otti said there had been no obvious reason for him to leave Abuja at that particular time. Still, he believed that his departure was divinely directed.
“They thought I jumped first, but I left.
“There was no reason for me not to be there, but God had taken me away from there,” he said.
Otti says friends tried to discourage me from politics
The governor also recounted how some friends tried to discourage him from entering politics, while others advised him to seek protection through traditional or other means.
“A lot of friends, after trying to dissuade me, found I couldn’t be dissuaded.
“They said, okay, if you decide to do this thing, you can’t go in there empty-handed.
“You can’t go there without belonging to some societies.
“You can’t go there without going to some native doctors for protection, and you will be shocked at the kind of people making these suggestions, some of whom are leaders in churches.”
Mr Otti said, however, that his conviction remained anchored on his decision to serve God, recalling the biblical account in Joshua 24:15.
He said: “But then, I’m always reminded about Joshua 24:15, where Joshua said to the Israelites that ‘If it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you would serve’.
“But then he ended that ‘as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord’.”
He said the lesson from the scripture was that individuals must make a conscious choice about whom they would serve, adding that those who had not made such a decision could still do so.
“So, if you don’t understand why you are here, this is why you are here.
“And, if you have not taken that decision, it’s not too late, because there is no other power,” he said.
Mr Otti further said the experience reinforced his conviction about the path he had chosen, adding that his administration would continue along the path of faith and service.
‘A sacred altar of rededication.’
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu, said Abia was in captivity for years until God raised Otti.
Mr Nwachukwu recalled that after securing electoral victory in 2023, Mr Otti and his team observed seven days of fasting and prayer to rededicate Abia to God.
He said three years later, it had become necessary to return in thanksgiving for God’s blessings and commit the next political dispensation to Him.
He said, “Through seasons of challenges and triumphs, His faithfulness has remained our anchor in challenging times.
“He held us, broke the chains of stagnation and moved us to where He has promised.
“Human effort alone cannot sustain the prosperity and progress we desire.
“The scripture reminds us that unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchmen watch in vain.
“As we stand on the threshold of a new dispensation, this service is a sacred altar of rededication.”
In his homily, Sam Oye, Lead Pastor of Transforming Church International, commended Governor Otti and his team for achieving milestones within three years.
Mr Oye lauded the administration’s achievements in road infrastructure, healthcare, education, fiscal responsibility and land reforms, but emphasised that more work remained.
Citing Joshua 13:1, Mr Oye said God acknowledged Joshua’s achievements but reminded him that there was still more land to possess.
“The word of the Lord to us on this Covenant Renewal Day is simple: More land to possess. More work to be done.
READ ALSO: My successor in 2031 will emerge on merit, not godfatherism – Otti
“More people to be reached. More systems to be reformed. And more potential in Abia to be released.
“Whereas we celebrate all the great things we have accomplished, we are saying we still have so much left undone.
“Our vision must survive personalities, political parties and election seasons.
“The vision must redefine the productive future of each of the 17 Local Government Areas,” Mr Oye said.
He charged the governor to outline industrial and agro-processing corridors, adding, “Our focus must be on strengthening institutions.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event had the Deputy Governor of Abia, Ikechukwu Emetu, and other top government officials and a team of clerics in attendance
It featured intercessory prayers, a praise-and-worship session, and ministrations and exhortations by clerics.
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