Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti has detailed a harrowing incident from July 2015, describing it as an assassination attempt that he believes was averted through divine intervention. Speaking on Thursday night at the “Abia Solemn Assembly and Covenant Renewal Service” in Umuahia, Otti recounted how he narrowly escaped an attack by gunmen at his residence in Abuja, stating that his decision to leave the capital the previous night saved his life.
Otti explained that he was in Abuja contesting the 2015 Governorship Election results at the tribunal after the victory was awarded to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Okezie Ikpeazu. He recalled attempting to hold a meeting with an individual who repeatedly rescheduled the appointment, ultimately leading to its cancellation. Despite objections from friends who advised him to stay, Otti stated he felt compelled to depart, telling them he needed to be at the tribunal by Friday. He noted that there was only one flight from Abuja to Owerri at the time, which he took.
“That night, assassins attacked my residence in Abuja, shot two policemen dead, and they were looking for me. Of course, God had taken me away,” Otti said.
The governor described the aftermath of the attack, noting that the assailants, who he said numbered up to 12, searched his premises in the Maitama district for hours. Believing Otti was still within the compound, they proceeded to strip the adjoining building of its contents before eventually leaving. Otti reflected that there was no obvious logical reason for his sudden departure, but he maintained that his exit was divinely directed, reinforcing his conviction to serve God rather than seek protection through traditional or occult means, as some friends had suggested.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Uzor Nwachukwu, addressed the assembly by recalling that Otti and his team observed seven days of fasting and prayer after securing electoral victory in 2023. Nwachukwu stated that the current service was a return in thanksgiving and a rededication of the state’s next political dispensation to God, emphasizing that human effort alone cannot sustain the prosperity Abia seeks.
In his homily, Dr. Sam Oye, Lead Pastor of Transforming Church International, commended the administration for milestones achieved in road infrastructure, healthcare, education, and fiscal responsibility over the past three years. However, Oye emphasized that significant work remained, citing the biblical concept of “more land to possess.” He charged the governor to establish industrial and agro-processing corridors and to focus on strengthening institutions to redefine the productive future of Abia’s 17 Local Government Areas.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
