Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has narrated how he reportedly escaped an alleged assassination attempt in Abuja several years ago while pursuing his political ambition of becoming governor of Abia State.
Otti disclosed that the incident occurred in July 2015 in Maitama, Abuja, where a group of armed men allegedly arrived at a location in search of him.
According to the governor, he narrowly avoided the attack because he had already departed from the premises shortly before the suspected assailants arrived.
He made the disclosure on Thursday during a solemn assembly and covenant renewal service held in Umuahia by the Abia State Government.
The gathering was organised as part of activities aimed at dedicating the state to God and seeking divine guidance for its affairs.
Recalling the incident, Otti said about 12 armed men allegedly stormed the area with the intention of attacking him.
He explained that the men reportedly believed he was still within the building and proceeded to search the premises after arriving.
However, the governor said his absence prevented the attackers from carrying out their alleged plan against him.
Otti further revealed that two individuals were shot during the incident.
He said the armed men later moved into a neighbouring compound, where they reportedly searched and ransacked the premises because they remained convinced that he was hiding there.
The governor attributed his survival to divine intervention, expressing gratitude to God for ensuring that he had left the location before the alleged attackers arrived.
According to him, the incident remained one of the experiences that strengthened his belief in God’s protection over his life and political journey.
Otti used the occasion to emphasise the importance of placing Abia’s affairs under God’s direction.
He said the solemn assembly was intended to provide an opportunity for the people and government of the state to renew their commitment to God and seek divine guidance for the future of Abia.
The governor stressed that the state should be governed in accordance with principles that promote righteousness, accountability and the welfare of its citizens.
He also expressed opposition to the influence of fetish practices and secret societies in the affairs of the state, saying governance should instead be guided by faith and a commitment to serving the people.
The ceremony brought together government officials and other stakeholders who participated in prayers and the covenant renewal exercise.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Solemn Assembly and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu, described Abia as a state that had allegedly experienced prolonged difficulties before Otti assumed office.
Nwachukwu claimed that the state had remained in a form of “captivity” for several years before the emergence of the current administration.
He said the gathering provided an avenue for the people of Abia to collectively seek God’s intervention and dedicate the state to His guidance.
The event therefore served both as a religious gathering and an opportunity for the state government to reaffirm its stated commitment to seeking divine direction in the administration of Abia.
Otti’s account of the 2015 incident added a personal dimension to the ceremony, as he reflected on what he described as God’s intervention in preserving his life during his political journey.
