By Florencemary Nwabueze
Abia — Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has pledged to build a befitting retirement home for Catholic priests in Aba, saying work on the project will commence soon.
Otti made the pledge on Sunday at Christ the King Cathedral, CKC, Asa Road, Aba, during the 40th priestly anniversary celebration of the Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Echema.
The governor said the project would be funded privately by the Alex Otti Foundation, Unubiko Foundation, Ide John Udeagbara Foundation and other private individuals, stressing that no government funds would be involved.
He said: “We want to take that problem off you. We will fund it. So, work will start very soon. And I know it’s not government’s fund. It’s from Alex Otti Foundation, Unubiko Foundation, Ide John Udeagbara Foundation and private concerns. So, it’s not a government thing. We will do it to our standard.”
Otti said Bishop Echema had earlier informed him of his desire to provide a retirement home for priests, bishops, reverend fathers and possibly reverend sisters, adding that he considered the project a worthy cause.
The governor, who congratulated Echema on 40 years of priestly service, described him as “a rare gift to Nigeria” and prayed God to continue to sustain him.
Responding, Bishop Echema described Otti as a governor of integrity, saying the governor’s performance would speak for him ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
He said: “I am telling you, Governor, I have said it before, I am not campaigning for you and I don’t need to campaign for you. The work that you have done so far will campaign for you.”
He thanked Otti for accepting to shoulder the burden of providing a retirement home for priests, saying the gesture would relieve the diocese of a major challenge.
Meanwhile, Otti disclosed that work on the Abia Airport, Nsulu, had progressed significantly, particularly the runway, which he said would soon be completed.