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Gov. Otti Leads Grand Ehi-La-Guru Day 2025 Celebration, Reaffirms Inclusive Development Agenda as Ngwa Leaders, Political Stakeholders, and Cultural Custodians Rally in Umuehim-Nvosi
The Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, on December 31, 2025, attended the Ehi-La-Guru Day 2025, a landmark cultural and community celebration of the people of Ehi-La-Guru Autonomous Community in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State.
Ehi-La-Guru Autonomous Community is made up of six villages: Umuehim, Umuguru, Ebeyi, Amaiyi, Umuokpogho, and Okpuala Ekere. The annual celebration, which has now become a unifying tradition, is designed to strengthen shared identity, peace, and collective progress among the villages. The colourful end-of-year event was held at the Umuehim Primary School Field, Umuehim-Nvosi, drawing a large turnout of government officials, political leaders, traditional rulers, and community stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Otti welcomed guests and offered prayers for the well-being of the people. He noted the significance of the date, explaining that December 31 marks the final day of the year, a period that is often challenging for many. Despite this, he commended the people of Ehi-La-Guru for setting aside the day to celebrate unity and communal achievements.
The Governor disclosed that the Ehi-La-Guru Day celebration has been sustained for the past seven years, adding that although some major activities had been scaled down, the essence and obligations of the event remained intact.
“So while the organisers are putting together the cup so that we can deliver the cup, I must also assure our people that we have an arrangement to celebrate the New Year for everybody in the different communities,” Governor Otti said.
He further assured the people that the New Year celebration package would reach all communities, revealing that a nine-man committee had been constituted to ensure effective coordination and equitable distribution.
Responding to demands raised by the Chairman of the occasion, Governor Otti clarified that most of the requests had already been addressed. He emphasized that although he hails from Ehi-La-Guru, his administration does not operate on sentiment or segregation.
According to him, development under his leadership is inclusive and will be felt across all parts of Abia State, stressing that governance and progress are meant for all Abians.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of Ehi-La-Guru Day, Pastor Odoemelam Nwaru, declared strong confidence in Governor Otti’s leadership, stating that nobody would contest with him in 2027, as he has no serious challenger. He described the current period as divinely ordained for Governor Otti to lead and rescue Abia State, assuring that the people of Ehi-La-Guru stand firmly behind him.
Pastor Nwaru also urged eligible residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and appealed to the Governor to sustain his development drive within Ehi-La-Guru while extending similar interventions to other rural villages in the community.
Speaking on behalf of the Planning Committee, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport, Chief (Dr.) Obioma Reuben Nwaogbe, expressed gratitude to Governor Otti for making the people of Nvosi proud through transformational projects spread across the state. He highlighted the fulfillment of the Governor’s promise on the Ehi-La-Uguru–Umunkpeyi Road, now equipped with streetlights, and commended the ongoing reconstruction of the Umunkpeyi–Amaiyi Road. He also noted the introduction of electric buses now operating on various routes across Abia State as a milestone in the administration’s transport reforms.
Also speaking, elder statesman and indigene of Ehi-La-Guru, Dr. Gershon Amuta, reaffirmed the long-standing position of Ehi-La-Uguru, Isiala Ngwa South, and the entire Ngwa nation in their sustained support for Governor Otti. He offered prayers for divine guidance and blessings upon the Governor and assured him of victory in the 2027 election, declaring that the people of Ehi-La-Guru had unanimously thrown their weight behind him.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Chief John Nwosu, thanked everyone for their support and participation and prayed for God’s guidance and protection as all attendees returned safely to their various destinations.
One of the major highlights of the celebration was the presentation of the Late Pastor Laz and Rose Otti Memorial Football Tournament Cup. The tournament, which concluded on December 30, 2025, saw Umuehim village emerge as champions of the 2025 edition. The Governor, who was flanked by Dr. Alex Alozie and former Super Eagles star, Kenneth Omeruo as he handed over the cup, directed that both the winner and the runners-up should receive their cash rewards attached to the cup and challenged the winning club to defend their title next year.
Special prayers were also offered by Ndi Eze Ala Ngwa, led by the First Deputy Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Nelson Nmerengwa. The event further witnessed the presentation of 26 books authored by a 14-year-old prodigy, Master Uchegbue Joseph Chimgozirim, to Governor Otti, drawing admiration from attendees.
Dignitaries present at the event included Wife of the Governor, Her Excellency Mrs Priscilla Chidinma Otti; the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Senator Darlington Nwokocha; the member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Rowland Dennis Chiwendu (Caesar); the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, PhD; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu; the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday; the Executive Chairman of Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, Hon. Nnadozie Nwaogwugwu; the Director-General of the Abia State Debt Management Office/Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Elder Kingsley Obinna Nwaigburu, PhD; the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Cooperative Societies, Hon. Ishmael Onuoha; the Chairman of the Abia State Diaspora Commission, Mr. Okey Agbara; Chairman of the Abia State Medicines and Commodities Management Agency (ASMCMA), Chief Victor Amuta, FPSN; former Mayor of Isiala Ngwa South LGA, Dr. Elelenta Nwambuisi Elele; and CEO of Skyview Lounge and Chieftain of the Labour Party in Aba North, Chief Chijioke Michael Amaku (MC Boss), among many others.
The gathering also featured prominent sons of Ehi-La-Guru, including High Chief Sylvester Iyioku (Shine Oil), the International Coordinator of the Dr. Alex Otti Ambassadors Political Structure, and Hon. Okeoma Nwogbe, Leader of the Chioma Abia Political Structure, whose presence further underscored the strong political and communal support for Governor Otti’s administration.