Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has recounted how he narrowly escaped an alleged assassination attempt in Abuja in 2015 while pursuing his ambition to become governor of Abia State.
Otti disclosed that about 12 armed men reportedly came looking for him in Maitama, Abuja, in July 2015, but failed to find him because he had left the location shortly before they arrived.
The governor made the revelation on Thursday during a Solemn Assembly and Covenant Renewal Service organised by the Abia State Government in Umuahia as part of efforts to rededicate the state to God.
According to Otti, the assailants believed he was still inside the building when they arrived and subsequently attacked people at the location.
“They shot two persons. They were looking for me, but God had taken me away.
“They finished; they couldn’t find me. They were about 12.
“They jumped into the next compound and stripped the whole place. They thought I was there, but I had left,” Otti recalled.
The governor said he remained grateful to God for sparing his life, describing his escape as a significant experience in his journey toward becoming the governor of Abia State.
Otti also explained that the solemn assembly was organised to rededicate Abia State to God and reaffirm the government’s commitment to ensuring that the affairs of the state are guided by Christian principles rather than fetish practices and secret societies.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Solemn Assembly and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu, said Abia State had allegedly remained in “captivity” for many years before Otti emerged as governor.
The event brought together government officials, religious leaders and residents in Umuahia for prayers and covenant renewal for the state.
