•Governor Otti
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has announced his approval to erect monuments in honour of Abia women.
Governor Otti announced this in response to the request of the member representing Bende North State Constituency, Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe, during the burial of his wife, Mrs Chiamaka Joyce Ibekwe, at Onu-Igbere, Bende LGA, yesterday, Wednesday, April.
Governor Otti, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, noted that Abia women have always been great women from time immemorial, adding that the request by Hon. Ibekwe is not personal, reports Daily Independent.
“I want to thank Honourable Ibekwe for the request he made here. And the request was not about him. It wasn’t even about Chiamaka (the wife).
“It was about Abia women from inception. Our women have always been great. If you don’t know, then you don’t know history.
“So, the request you have made, I want to assure you that it is not only going to be considered, but it’s going to be approved. And I believe it’s going to be a great encouragement to women who toy day and night,” Governor Otti stated.
Otti made a strong appeal for increased participation of women in governance, particularly in the State House of Assembly, noting that the time has come when women should be given the pride of place, and urged members of the Assembly to assist in considering the women, while advising the women to also do their due diligence to make it work.
“I have been at the forefront of fighting for women to be recognised and given their due place. And I want to challenge all of us, particularly members of the state House of Assembly, where no woman is sitting.
“Today, 24 of you (House members) are men. So, the Right Honourable Speaker, you have a challenge in your hands.
“You either create more constituencies, or you ask some men to step down for women as we approach 2027. We need to find some women in the House.
“Even if we start with four of 24, that would be better than zero. And women, you also need to unite and help us,” Gov Otti stated.
Otti condoled with Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe on the demise of his wife, describing her as a gift from God and urged all to take heart.
“We are thanking God for the gift of this woman lying here today. A special privilege that we had her in the first place.
“If you’ve spent time reading the tributes, or if you encountered her, then you would know she was a gift from God. And because she was a gift, the giver will always determine when he will take. So, it’s not for us to decide what will happen. So, we thank God for the gift of this woman.
“So, I want to call on all of you to take heart. Let me once again console you on our behalf. Thank you for being a great husband, Gov Otti stated.
Earlier in their tributes, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Maureen Aghukwa and Mrs Eucharia Okezie, on behalf of the friends, said that the deceased was a good example of a good woman, a devout Christian and a woman of prayer.
They noted that a vacuum has actually been created with her death.
In his sermon, Rev. Mrs Oyiks Alfred of the Word Base Assembly admonished Christians not to mourn like people who have no hope, but like those who understand the promise of eternal life in Christ.
She noted that everyone must die, but the difference is that anyone who follows Jesus Christ has hope of eternity, as life does not end in death.
Rev. Mrs Alfred noted that the deceased had hope in Christ, assuring that she is alive with the Lord and urged all to take heart.
In his speech, the chief mourner and husband of the deceased, Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe, described his late wife as a remarkable and selfless woman whose life radiated love, kindness, and devotion to God.
He noted that she was deeply committed to prayer and played a significant spiritual role within the family and beyond, leaving lasting impacts on the lives of many.
Hon. Ibekwe passionately appealed to the governor to immortalise the contributions of great Abia women through monuments, stating that such recognition would honour their legacy and inspire future generations, noting that Abia women, since the days of the 1929 women’s riot, have continued to make great contributions to society.
Aged 46 years, the late Mrs Chiamaka Joyce Ibekwe was survived by her husband, Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe, 4 children and a host of other relatives.
