Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has announced plans to commence the reconstruction of Uratta Road and Old Express Road in Aba, as part of efforts to complete the recovery of the state’s commercial hub.
Otti made the announcement on Sunday during a special Mass held at Christ the King Catholic Church, Aba, where the Catholic Diocese of Aba honoured him for what it described as his impactful leadership and commitment to public service.
The governor expressed appreciation to the Church and its various organisations for the recognition, pledging to remain focused on delivering good governance to the people of Abia State as he enters the final year of his first term in office.
“Even if you pay the Catholic Church a billion dollars, they will not do the wrong thing. This is your government, and we will never disappoint you,” Otti said.
According to him, his administration has largely addressed environmental sanitation, road rehabilitation and water supply challenges and is now shifting greater attention to healthcare, education, technology, industrialisation and other critical sectors.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet. We have just dealt with hygiene issues, cleaning up the environment, roads, water and so on. We are now focusing more on healthcare, education, technology, industrialisation and other sectors.
“We will soon embark on the complete recovery of Aba by flagging off the reconstruction of Uratta Road and Old Express Road. Any project we can’t find the money for, we don’t start. We have found the money. It is in the bank, and the flag-off will happen soon,” he stated.
The governor also pledged support for the ongoing Catholic Men Organisation secretariat project, as well as initiatives being undertaken by the Catholic Women Organisation and Catholic Youth Organisation.
In his sermon, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Aba, Most Rev. Prof. Augustine Ndubueze Echema, stressed that leadership and power must be centred on the welfare of the people.
Drawing inspiration from Matthew 9:36, Echema noted that Jesus Christ showed compassion for the people because their leaders had failed them, adding that effective leadership must be driven by empathy and service.
The bishop likened Otti to a compassionate leader committed to the wellbeing of Abians, declaring that the governor’s performance would speak for itself ahead of future elections.
“We have a man of integrity, and nobody needs to campaign for Governor Otti. His works will campaign for him.
“You are worth supporting. This is the first time the Catholic Diocese of Aba is honouring a governor,” Echema said.
He commended the governor for what he described as efforts to improve the lives of residents and urged Catholic faithful to participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards.
The Catholic Men Organisation, Catholic Women Organisation and Catholic Youth Organisation, in separate remarks, praised Otti’s administration for its people-oriented policies and projects.
They described him as a “silent achiever” whose interventions, particularly in road infrastructure, have positively impacted the lives of ordinary Abians and residents of Aba.
The organisations later presented special gifts to the governor in recognition of his service.
The event was attended by the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba; Chief Reagan Ufomba and his wife; members of the Abia State House of Assembly; mayors; the Commissioner for Culture, Arts and Creative Economy, Matthew Ekwuribe; and other senior government officials.
