By Jennifer Amarachi
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has pledged to re-establish the Abia Pilgrims Welfare Board ahead of this year’s Holy Land pilgrimage.
Otti made the pledge on Tuesday when a delegation of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission led by its Executive Secretary, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, visited him in his Nvosi country home in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area.
“We believe that leadership is about service and that as a leader if you are not interested in the welfare of the people, you have already failed.
“I want to assure you that this government will continue to do the right thing,” Otti added.
He also claimed to be very “methodical” in the way he manages the state’s finances, adding that people often ask how he managed the administration without borrowing money and if he did borrow money, it would be for investments.
Otti also claimed that many of the programs in his election manifesto were being implemented one after the other.
In his remarks, cleric stated that the arrangements for the 2024 Christian Pilgrimage to the Holy Land had not been finalized.
Adegbite had earlier urged the governor to reconstitute the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, stating that the board had been a very friendly partner in the Christian Pilgrims project.
He added that the cost of a pilgrimage from Abia to Jerusalem is currently N5 million, and that the commission would reveal the exact cost “as soon as the commission receives approval of the state’s support.”
He also praised the governor for his accomplishments since taking office approximately 16 months ago.
