Don’t quit politics after 2031, PFN pleads with Otti

…Urges him not to bother campaigning for 2027

Clergymen and Leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Abia State Chapter have advised Alex Otti, governor of Abia State, not to quit politics after completing his second term in office by 2031.

Governor Otti had in several fora made public his decision to quit active politics after his second tenure in office as governor.
The leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria Abia State chapter gave the advice to the governor through Chikezie Elekwa. An archbishop and immediate past state chairman, who led the group to a courtesy call to Governor Alex Otti, in his office recently.

Archbishop Elekwa said that they heard he said that he was quitting politics after his tenure and pleaded that he should not quit but allow the people to decide.

“Some time ago, we heard you said that after your second term, that you will go out of politics. Please, Your Excellency, don’t just decide on that.

“Let the public, let the people decide it, please. Because, you can’t just show yourself before us for only eight years and you disappear.

“Please, let it go public and let the people decide on what happens next, please,” Elekwa stated.

Elekwa also said that the governor needed not to bother himself in campaigning for 2027 election, as the PFN is doing that for him already.
“Come next year, Your Excellency, you don’t need any campaign anywhere. The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, we are already mobilising our people from the grassroots.
“This body has people across the state in every local government and in every ward. And, we assure you of the votes of PFN.

“We are Christians. Before you came on board, Your Excellency, we know that spiritual darkness covered the state. To the extent that the ‘Mami Water’ at the Omenuko Bridge could not allow them to build that bridge. But the moment you appeared, the ‘Mami Water’ disappeared. So, today, we are proud of our state.

Read also: Alex Otti leaves door open to future exit from Labour Party

“We are proud of our state. Wherever we go to, we make proud to tell people that we are from Abia State. Your Excellency, you don’t know what you have done for Abians,” Elekwa stated.

He pledged the full support of the Church to the administration.
“Every support you will need, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria will give it to you. So, that is what the new Exco is here to let you know. That is while I and the past Exco stepped out, that this new one, will carry on.

“Abians will never go back to darkness. This light that God has introduced through you will keep shining brighter by the day. In the name of Jesus Christ,” Elekwa declared.

Archbishop Elekwa, on behalf of the PFN, thanked God for using Governor Otti to deliver the state and appreciated the governor for joining politics to save Abia from bad leadership.

“We want to sincerely thank God for your life. For everything God has used you to do in our state.

“We’ve never had it this good. We’ve never dreamt of it. In fact, to some of us, it’s like we are dreaming.

“So, we want to sincerely appreciate the Almighty God for all He is doing through your life. You are an answered prayer. Abians cried, Abians prayed, and God answered that prayer by giving us a gift in your person.

“We don’t take it for granted. We want to thank you for making yourself available. Thank you very much, Your Excellency,” Arcbishop Elekwa stated.

He informed the governor that Newlife Ugochukwu, a bishop and the new state chairman, was indisposed hence, was not physically present, and assured him of the support of PFN to his administration.

Responding, Otti thanked the leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Abia State Chapter for their consistent prayers, support, and encouragement, acknowledging the significant role the Christian body played in his emergence.

“It is important to put it on record that PFN supported this movement from the beginning, in 2015, in 2019, and again in 2023,

“The Church stood firm, together with other fathers of faith, you were resolute. We do not take that for granted.” Gov, Otti stated.

The governor emphasised that the core mission of his administration remained the restoration of the dignity of the people and the rewriting of Abia’s story, stressing that governance is a collective effort.

“No one can do it alone,” he noted, giving credit to members of his team for their contributions to the transformation being witnessed across the state.

Governor Otti also reflected on the need for people of faith to actively engage in governance, observing that in the past, many who maintained strong relationships with God distanced themselves from politics.

“For a long time, politics was seen as something meant for a certain kind of people.

“Many who believed in God stayed away, and the state was handed over to those who either did not believe or only pretended to believe. This is the time to hand the state back to God”, Otti said.

While acknowledging the advice for him to remain active in politics beyond his current tenure, Governor Otti maintained that leadership decisions must align with divine direction.
“As humans, we may have our own thoughts about when to step aside. But ultimately, we cannot speak when the Lord has not spoken,” he added.