Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has commended Abia-born immigration Officer, Ugochukwu Prince Orji, who rejected a N10 Million bribe in the line of duty, saying that he would be celebrated in due course.
Governor Otti on Sunday commended Mr. Orji when he received in audience a 30-man delegation of the organizers and sponsors of the Oha Isiala Ngwa Grand Civic Reception/Appreciation in his honour for his visible achievements and impactful leadership in Isiala Ngwa and across the entire State.
The Governor started by thanking the organizers of the grand civic reception/appreciation. “Let me start by thanking you for bringing all our brothers and sisters together to organize the grand civic reception, which happened yesterday. It was so grandiose that when I entered the stadium, I was shocked. I was not expecting such crowd of over 10,000 people. All of them stayed till the end of the programme, very, very happy. I want to thank you and thank all the leaders.”
The State Chief Executive also thanked them for making contributions, tasking themselves to raise over N100 Million for the event, saying that such gesture from them would not be taken for granted. He equally appreciated those who flew in from different parts of the country and outside the country, (like Lagos, Abuja, USA, etc.), noting that, he was dumbfounded by what he described as an unprecedented show of love and promised to do more as a way of reciprocating the show of love. “By the time we are done, I’m sure people will not recognize our place anymore,” the Governor stated amidst applause.
The Governor commended the immigration officer, Mr. Ugochukwu Promise Orji for performing his job very well, thereby demonstrating honesty and being a good ambassador of his community and Abia State. “I have always made this point that we are straight forward people, we are not criminals. We don’t steal, we don’t cheat. Of course, out of every 12, there must be a Judas. Sometimes the Judas is so loud that he drowns the good jobs of the other 11.”
The Governor explained that our people are industrious and hardworking people who don’t depend on handouts for survival but would want to work and earn a decent living, and so, would reject gifts from questionable sources. “What you did is typical of us; you represented us very, very well.” Recalling how he celebrated a Keke driver recently who returned a huge sum of money left in his Keke back to the owner, Governor Otti said, “Just like the Gentleman who returned huge sum of money and we celebrated him, so, we will celebrate you also. Governor Otti, who said that he was aware that the event happened in Enugu State, disclosed that he told his brother Governor of Enugu State, to start the celebration from there, and then he would round it off at home. He stressed that there is so much to gain by being straightforward. “The Whole idea is to also let people know that, there is so much to gain by being straightforward. There is so much to gain by rejecting bribes. ₦10 million is a lot of money, and you could do so much with it, but you rejected it. And, you rejected it because it is not earned…So, I want to encourage you to continue to serve in a straightforward manner. This example you have shown, hold on to it.
He encouraged the honest immigration officer not to let anybody make him feel bad or discouraged about what he did by telling him what N10 million could have done for him, stating “It is foolish to think that you can cheat your way out and then become a big man tomorrow, No. Whatever you get illegally, somehow, someday, somewhere, you will lose and pay for it.
He thanked him for representing Abia State very well, assuring that he would be celebrated in due course.
Mr. Ugochukwu Promise Orji, hails from Obikabia, Isiala Ngwa South LGA of Abia State.
Earlier in his speech, the leader of the delegation, Sen. Darlington Nwokocha, revealed that they came to thank the Governor for accepting to be honoured and for honoring their invitation and presented their son, Mr. Ugochukwu Promise Orji, who made them proud by rejecting N10 Million inducement to compromise on the line of duty. He explained that they came together on their own, agreed to celebrate the Governor, and happily contributed to doing so, noting that “The more we celebrate you, we are celebrating ourselves because you have really made us proud.”
In his vote of thanks, the member representing Isiala North and South in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe thanked the Governor for accepting to be honoured even though he is not given to such public outing. He thanked him for the promise he made to fix the Sam Ihesilor stadium, Okpuala Ngwa, the venue of the grand civic reception. He thanked his fellow organizers for joyfully contributing to the project, noting that at some point, he stopped releasing the account number designated for the event.
The delegation was made of captains of industries and political leaders from Isiala Ngwa North and South LGAs.
Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
02-06-2025.
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