REASONS FOR ABIA 2024 CHRISTMAS CAROL.
By Ukoha Njoku Ukoha
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
Christmas carol is joyful hymn traditionally sung at Christmas, a global feast celebrating the birth of Christ, the saviour of mankind.
It is a momentous gathering of Christians with songs to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
On Sunday, December 22 , by 5:00pm local time, all road leads to the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, venue of the Abia 2024 Christmas Carol of Nine lessons, courtesy of His Excellency, Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR.
The joyous occasion will provide Abians with the opportunity to join Christians all over the world to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the saviour of humanity.
Apart from the endless joy that flows from the birth of Jesus which is the reason for Christmas, His Excellency Governor Alex Chioma Otti, has truly given Abians additional cause to celebrate Christmas.
The giant strides of the Governor Otti-led administration dotting the landscape of Abia State, and openly acknowledged even by the opposition, cannot be controverted.
For the first time in decades, Abians can celebrate Christmas driving to their various communities on good roods.
The fast disappearance of dilapidated roads that were hitherto a common sight in the State, has added to the joy of Abians as they celebrate this year’s Christmas.
From Umuahia to Bende; Isuikwuato to Abiriba; Ohafia to Arochukwu; Ikwuano to Ngwa land; Enyimba City to Ukwa; and Isuochi, Nneato to Chieze; the presence of Otti’s administration is being felt by all.
For the first time in decades, Abia workers and pensioners are celebrating Christmas without any protest march or pouring of libations at road joints against Government’s wickedness and insensitivity over their plights.
There are no more prayer requests in churches for God to touch Government to pay accumulated workers’ salary arrears and retirees’ pensions.
In his magnanimity, Governor Otti has approved the payment of 13th month salary to Abia workers to help cushion the financial pressure on families in the face of the economic realities in the country.
Even the traditional rulers were not left out in the Governor’s magnanimity as he has equally approved a special Christmas package of N150,000 for every traditional ruler in the state in addition to jerking their monthly stipend from peanut to N250,000 with effect from this December.
The on-going massive retrofitting of Abia hospitals including the renovation of 200 primary health centres across the 184 political wards in the state, is adding to the joy of Abia residents.
The incontrovertible footprints of Otti’s administration is evident in every sector of the Abia economy.
In less than two years, Governor Alex Chioma Otti, has completely changed the narrative with his Midas’s touch, turning the State into a huge construction site and investors’ preferred destination.
The influx of both local and foreign investors into Abia, previously avoided less than 2 years back, is a pointer that Otti’s emergence, like the birth of Jesus, marked the dawn of a new beginning.
With improved security and visible development, Abians from all over the world can happily join their kith and kin in their villages to celebrate Christmas in peace.
May the joy of Christmas and the happiness of good governance by Governor Otti continue to reverberate across Abia, the God’s Own State.
Compliments of the Christmas Season.
