The Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Ndubueze Echema, has said Abia State Governor Alex Otti is a governor with integrity and that his works will campaign for him as he seeks re-election in 2027.
Bishop Echema stated this at the Christ the King Cathedral (CKC), Asa Road, Aba, on Sunday, while welcoming and appreciating the governor, priests, Catholic faithful and friends who gathered to celebrate with him on his 40th priestly anniversary.
The Catholic Bishop, while thanking the governor for his decision to build a retirement home for priests in the diocese, noted that he had discussed the need with the Governor barely three months ago.
Bishop Echema said, “Let me go to our amiable governor. It is not up to three months we invited you here and then we cornered you and presented our needs.
“I mentioned that day that I am dealing with a governor with integrity. And I have no fear of any contradiction to repeat it here. We are dealing with a man with integrity. If you are in doubt, you go to Aba. He is a man of integrity.
“I am telling you ( Otti) I have said it before, I am not campaigning for you and I don’t need to campaign for you. The work that you have done so far will campaign for you.
“You will continue to go higher and higher and I know you will do it (building the retirement home). Thank you so very much. I’m sure the priests are very happy. You have taken down our heavy load. There are so many things to do. So, thank you for this wonderful gesture.”
Bishop Echema, while thanking God for His grace over his life and ministry in the last 40 years, appreciated the Governor, Bishops, Rev. Fathers and all Catholic faithful for coming to celebrate with him.
In his speech, Otti congratulated Most Rev. Augustine Echema on his 40th priestly anniversary and prayed for God to bless him.
Otti, who described Most Rev. Echema as a rare gift to Nigeria, thanked God for His grace upon him for the past 40 years and prayed for God to continue to sustain him.
The state chief executive recalled that the bishop had informed him of the need to build a retirement home for Catholic priests and announced that he and his friends, including the Chairman of Unubiko Foundation, Chief James Ume, Ide John Udeagbara Foundation and other private individuals, had decided to execute the project without any cost to the government.
“We are very happy that our Father has clocked 40 years in this service and it is a rare privilege to do 40 years. We thank God that he has good health. So that is the grace of God. If you know his story, you will know that there are a lot of reasons for that.
“I pray that God will keep him because he is a rare gift to Nigeria. We want to thank God for his life and it is our prayer that He will continue to keep him. This is the least he can ever be.
“I know that there is something that the Bishop has so much passion for. He called me sometime and said, ‘this is what I want to do.’ That is a retirement home for priests, bishops, reverend fathers, and I believe Rev sisters too.
“We want to take that problem off you. We will fund it. So, work will start very soon. And I know it’s not government’s fund. It’s from Alex Otti Foundation, Unubiko Foundation, Ide John Udeagbara Foundation and private concerns. So, it’s not a government thing. We will do it to our standard,” Gov. Otti stated.
The Governor used the opportunity to inform Abians that work at the Abia Airport, Nsulu, had progressed significantly, with the runway nearing completion, adding that work on the runway would soon be completed.
Member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, members of the Abia House of Assembly, mayors, members of the State Executive Council and senior appointees of the government, the Archbishop of the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, bishops from across the country, including friends of the governor; Chief James Ume (Ike Abam), among other dignitaries, attended the event.
