Gov Otti’s impromptu attendance to worship centres and its imperative impacts
By Charles Ogugbuaja, Ph.D.
There is a popular Igbo adage that says Mgberede nyiri dike, obu kwa mgberede ka eji ama dike. This is translated to mean that a sudden thing that happens to a strong – willed man takes a toll on him, also, a powerful man is rated by his ability to withstand or handle any sudden thing that comes his way.
The above proverb is taken seriously in describing any creative, brilliant, intelligent and organized individual. It is not out of place to say that any leader at any level of human endeavour who is associated with the above adage is simply regarded as an “out of the box thinker,” always thinking before he acts, and not talking before he thinks.
From the above indication, one man who has clearly fitted in the foregoing is the Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti. He has variously demonstrated that pattern to pass messages of hope, unearthing what his administration is doing or intends to do, to his hosts, worshippers and entire Abians, stressing that he serves the God of humility, determined to constantly demonstrate as long as he remains the Governor of Abia State.
One clear activity which he has adopted since his ascension to power in May 29, 2023, is his rare behaviour of going to worship centres during services, either on Saturdays, in the case of the Seventh Day Adventist, and on Sundays, in the case of Churches (Anglican, Catholic and other pentecostal denominations), joining the congregants to worship unannounced. This means that he has chosen to adopt the style of not informing the leadership of any worship centre, no matter how remote it is located, and participate in the religious activities. He does so every week. He does not restrict himself to his primary church. He considers every worship centre in the state as his own. It is also true to say that no past governor has applied such style of reaching the governed via such means, even at the grassroots. By so doing, he has applied accountability, prudence and transparency to the people, informing them about the over 250 projects his administration is either executing or executed, under the “Each Day, Each One” project Ekwueme Abia.
This habit is biblical. This is because in the Bible, God warned that it is unnecessary for one to allow the left hand know what the right hand is doing. God also warned Christians not to pray like those who want to be noticed when they are offering such sacrifice of seeking the face of God.
For one thing, the habit has paid handsomely. Governor Otti, has used such pattern of taking the religious worshippers by surprise as a platform of knowing the myriad of problems facing many worship centres, including interaction -centred system.
From credible feedback received, some churches and worship centres are praying vigorously and fervently for Governor Otti to make such surprise attendance to their places of worship.
Some weeks ago, Governor Otti, attended a church service at the Seven Day Adventist near the Umuikaa Junction, Isiala Ngwa South Local government area of the state, and gladly had a session with them. At the end, as usual, he addressed the congregation. He had their pulse of areas of need, including a bus request for religious activities. He quickly responded announcing a gift of a bus, courtesy of a guest on his entourage. That bus was delivered that week to the leadership of that church. He also pleaded with them to bear with the government on the dust they inhale, arising from the construction of the road being expanded, to enable motorists have a smooth ride as they enter the state from Imo State. He directed the contractors to build a drainage from the church, channeled to the junction to tackle flooding problem. Similar work is going from the Onuimo point to Abia Tower, Umuahia.
It is necessary to point out that under the Green Shuttle Bus programme initiated by the governor, the 20 electric buses have offered free services to over 77,000 passengers since December they started operations, according to the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu. By December, 80 more of the eco friendly buses would have been on the fleet.
This is how a governor governs, feeling the pulse of the people from different segments of the masses. Governance is not achieved from the Olympian height. It is not also done by constantly travelling, leaving the state and governing from diaspora. It is also an avenue for the worshippers to sincerely tell the governor where he has done well and where he requires to upscale and finetune.
It is simply correct to use a suiting expression that Abians are lucky to have a man that has that fear of God in him.
In this direction, it is proper to urge the opposition camp to constructively criticize and not always finding loopholes for destructive criticisms.
As an independent observer, it is not out of place to correctly say that God has through Governor Otti, answered the hitherto long awaited prayers Abians had embarked on.
Ogugbuaja wrote from Umuomainta -Nbawsi-Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, Abia State.
27-01-26
