Governor Otti Vows to Immortalise FUTO Vice-Chancellor for Upholding Integrity in 2023 Election

|By Adejumo Adekunle

In a gesture he described as a reward for integrity, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has announced plans to honour Professor Nnenna Otti, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), who served as the Returning Officer during the 2023 gubernatorial election in Abia State.

Speaking at a grand civic reception held in his honour by the Old Bende Progressive Union at Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, Governor Otti hailed the academic for her courage and refusal to compromise during the election, describing her as “a woman of truth and credibility” who set a new benchmark for Nigeria.

“We will invite her at the appropriate time and immortalise her. She may not have collected the money, but she collected something greater than money—honour and respect. Anytime people talk about integrity and credibility, they look in her direction,” Otti declared.

He urged public officers across the country to emulate Professor Otti’s example by standing firm for truth and justice regardless of personal gain.

The governor, who used the occasion to caution against early political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, warned political actors to avoid arrogance and premature boasts about the future.

“Those who boast should stop. You may not even be here in 2027. If you want to play God, I will leave you in the hands of God,” he cautioned.

Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to service delivery and the fulfillment of the people’s mandate, stressing that his focus remains on improving the lives of Abians rather than being distracted by political games.

“We have a lot of work to do. Let us focus on the mandate given to us. At the appropriate time, it is you, the citizens, who will decide who leads you,” he added.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Old Bende Progressive Union and retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Chief Azubuike Udah, described the event as a collective endorsement of Governor Otti’s leadership. He commended the governor’s developmental strides across various sectors and noted that the people of Old Bende remain united in their support for his administration.