NEWS
“THE WORST ILLITERATE IS THE POLITICAL ILLITERATE, HE DOESN’T HEAR, DOESN’T SPEAK, NOR PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL EVENTS…” — Abia State Gov., Dr. Alex Otti Reveals, Calls For Active Political Participation at Transformation Church Int’l Abuja Conference
The Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has called on Christians and other faith-based institutions in Nigeria, as well as well-meaning Nigerians, to take deliberate interest and become actively involved in driving societal transformation as moral watchdogs. He stressed that politics must not be ignored if getting the leadership question in Nigeria right truly matters to them.
Governor Otti made this call on Saturday, April 11th, while delivering a keynote speech titled “The role of the Church in Societal Transformation” at the Transforming Church Int’l, Abuja, during their ADVANCE Workers, Pastors & Leaders Conference.
In the well-researched keynote address, which focused on the critical role of the Church in societal transformation and nation-building, Governor Otti emphasized that the lack of interest in politics and political participation by those who perceive politics as dirty has significantly contributed to leadership challenges in the country.
Governor Otti said that he believes strongly that the Church has a crucial role to play in answering Nigeria’s leadership question, stating that “because a journey through history, has shown the unequal resilience of the Church as a force in societal transformation.“
He referenced how “Jesus started his ministry by proclaiming the kingdom of God as good news to the poor, challenged religious and political elites, and reversed social hierarchies and inequalitie.“
Governor Otti noted that while many people view politics as dirty, it remains a powerful tool for shaping leadership outcomes and influencing the direction of society. He explained that those who desire good governance must be willing to participate actively in the political process rather than remain passive, because it is the political process that produces leaders who formulate programmes and policies that affect individuals and ultimately determine the socio-economic progress or backwardness of society.
The number one citizen of Abia State defined societal transformation as “deep structural change in a society’s values, institutions, systems and behaviour which leads to improved wellbeing, justice, and sustainable development,“ explaining that it goes beyond cosmetic reforms to fundamentally reshape how a society usually functions.
The Governor further stated that societal transformation is therefore not merely about economic growth or infrastructure development. He explained that it involves three key dimensions: Radical shift in values, because no society rises above the values it tolerates and rewards; profound change in leadership, as the quality of leadership of any society determines the direction of the society or nation; and the dramatic modification of institutions, since strong institutions are the key pillars for sustaining societal positive change and national development.
Governor Alex Otti, who was further engaged during an interactive question-and-answer session, urged the Church to adopt a more productive approach to welfarism by going beyond the distribution of handouts to developing initiatives that create jobs, enabling members to work hard and earn a decent living.
Citing the example of the Alex Otti Foundation, which he founded over a decade ago, Gov. Otti noted that churches can establish cooperative societies through which members can access interest-free revolving loans, among other empowerment-driven interventions.
He urged religious institutions to go beyond spiritual guidance and take deliberate steps in encouraging their members to get involved in politics, bringing Christian values such as honesty and accountability to guide and shape political behaviour and outcomes within political parties through the emergence of credible candidates during elections.
The Abia State Chief Executive equally enjoined faith-based institutions to encourage their members to take advantage of the ongoing voters’ registration exercise to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), maintaining that faith-based organisations possess the moral authority and grassroots reach needed to influence positive change in governance.
The Governor, whose performance in less than three years in office has made Abia State a reference point for good governance, having restored the dignity of the State from decades of ignominious past, said that politics is not dirty as most faith-based organisations perceive it, but that only dirty people bring their dirty attitudes into politics.
He said that the only way to remove those who bring dirty behaviour into politics is for men of integrity, honour, and verifiable track records of success, with second addresses, who do not see politics as a career but as a call to service, to actively participate. He noted that this conviction informed his own decision, as a former bank GMD/CEO, to leave his comfort zone and join politics to serve the people.
The former bank chief made it clear that no amount of sermonising, fasting and prayers, or casting and binding of devils slowing down societal progress will yield results unless members of faith-based institutions deliberately get involved in politics and participate in the process that produces leaders who pilot the affairs of the country.
“God cannot do for us the things he has empowered us to do for ourselves,“ Governor Otti stated, emphasizing that faith without work is dead as stated in the scripture.
“As Church leaders, we should cooperate with God not to deny the younger generation of Christians the opportunities and blessings of good governance.
“It is easier to influence the policies of government if we are part of the government through meaningful political socialization, participation of our members in the political and electoral processes by registering as members of political parties and by voting in elections and making sure that our votes count,“ Governor Otti stated.
He further disclosed how the collaboration of his administration with some religious institutions in health and education, among others, is already delivering results, citing the donation of an MRI machine valued at $1 million to the State by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).
The University of Port Harcourt first-class economist ended his presentation with a quote from Fredrick Bertolt Brecht thus: “The worst illiterate is the political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participate in political events. He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of beans, of fish, of flour, of rent, of shoes and of medicine, all depends on political decisions. The political illiterate is so stupid that he
is proud and swells his chest saying