By Milcah Tanimu
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has boldly declared that his only “godfather” is God in heaven, reaffirming his administration’s independence from external influences.
The Labour Party governor made this statement during a Thanksgiving service at St. James Methodist Church in Umuda, Isingwu, Umuahia North Council, organized by Hon. Smart Ihuoma, the Mayor of the council.
Otti emphasized his commitment to transparency and an open-door policy, highlighting the challenges politicians face when beholden to financial or political sponsors.
“One of the challenges in politics is that when people enter office on the support or finances of someone else, it becomes easy for that person to dictate to them,” Otti stated.
“But I can assure you that we are standing on our feet. Our only godfather is the God in heaven. We operate an open-door policy, so we are willing to listen to suggestions, but they will not be treated as orders.”
The governor expressed confidence that his administration’s achievements would set a high standard, making it difficult for individuals without genuine contributions to compete in future Abia State elections.
“By the time we are done serving, those with nothing to offer will find it impossible to contest elections in Abia State,” Otti affirmed.
Drawing comparisons to the transformation of Anambra State under Dr. Chris Ngige in 1999, Otti noted how impactful governance creates lasting benchmarks for political leadership.
Otti also praised the growing engagement of Abia’s citizens and reiterated his commitment to maintaining transparency through regular media briefings.
