Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has asserted that societies receive the type of leadership they deserve, emphasizing the importance of active participation in politics by well-meaning individuals.
Otti made this remark on Sunday while speaking at The Transforming Church (TTC) in Gwarimpa, Abuja, where he was hosted by the Lead Pastor, Rev. Dr. Sam Oye.
Reflecting on the need for positive influence in leadership, Otti stressed that society suffers when good people avoid political involvement.
“There was a time when children of God would sit back and allow people with no good mission for society to assume leadership,” he said. “If you sit back and conclude that politics is for ‘them,’ the politicians would determine your destiny for you.”
Delivering his message with a tone akin to a sermon, the governor referenced the Bible, stating, “There is a saying in the scripture that power belongs to God; if that is so, why are the children of God shying away from politics? From getting into politics and power, you can affect a lot of changes.”
He contrasted the impact he could make in his previous role as Managing Director of Diamond Bank with the broader reach he now has as a governor.
“From 2011 to 2023, as the head of Diamond Bank, I could only touch a small fraction of people. But today, as a governor, I can positively impact a larger population. For instance, we discovered that many of our people were struggling, so we identified 10,000 individuals and disbursed 1 billion naira to them without any interest. That initiative created 10,000 jobs. Additionally, we recently provided 365 million naira in interest-free loans to 300 farmers, transforming the agricultural landscape. These are changes I couldn’t have made without being in power.”
Recounting the journey to his election victory, Otti attributed it to divine intervention, noting that Rev. Oye played a key role in encouraging him to combine prayer with hard work. He explained that just two days before the election, the returning officer for Abia State was replaced, a move he initially found unsettling.
“Just 48 hours to the election, the returning officer for Abia was changed, and a woman professor from Owerri was assigned. I was a bit panicky, not realizing that God was rearranging things in my favor. Despite efforts to influence her after the ballots were cast, she stood her ground and ensured the correct results were announced on March 22, 2023,” Otti recounted.
Expressing his gratitude, he said, “I want to thank Rev. Sam, his wife, and the entire TTC family for standing by me. I challenge young men not to shy away from politics, as it is in that space where decisions that shape their lives are made.”
