By Destiny Obinna
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has pledged to build a befitting retirement home for Catholic priests in Aba, saying work on the project would commence soon.
Otti made the commitment on Sunday at Christ the King Cathedral (CKC), Asa Road, Aba, during the celebration of the 40th priestly anniversary of the Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Echema.
The governor said the project would be funded by private foundations and individuals, stressing that no government funds would be committed to its construction.
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 shared with him his desire to establish a retirement home for priests, bishops, reverend fathers and possibly religious sisters.
He said he considered the proposal a worthy cause deserving of support, particularly given the contribution of Catholic priests and religious leaders to society.
The governor congratulated Echema on attaining 40 years in the priesthood and described him as “a rare gift to Nigeria.”
Otti prayed for continued strength and divine guidance for the bishop as he advances in his priestly ministry.
Earlier, the bishop had spoken about the need for a befitting retirement facility for priests who had spent their productive years serving the Church and the people.
Responding to the governor’s pledge, Echema expressed appreciation to Otti for accepting to shoulder the financial burden of the project.
The bishop described Otti as a governor of integrity and said his administration’s performance would determine how the people assess him ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
“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,” Echema said.
He thanked the governor for responding positively to the retirement-home proposal, saying the gesture would remove a major burden from the diocese.
The celebration brought together Catholic faithful, clergy, religious leaders, government officials and other well-wishers who joined the bishop to mark four decades of priestly service.
Meanwhile, Otti disclosed that construction work on the Abia Airport at Nsulu had progressed significantly, particularly on the runway.
According to him, work on the runway would soon be completed as the state government continues with the development of the airport project.
The governor said the airport remained part of the administration’s broader infrastructure development agenda aimed at improving connectivity and supporting economic activities in the state.
