Alex Otti, governor of Abia state, has declined a lifetime leadership award presented to him by students of Abia State University (ABSU), saying he would not accept awards or honorary recognitions while still serving in office.
The award was presented to the governor during a programme at the university campus.
In a video that has gone viral on X, Otti appreciated the gesture but insisted that he had made a commitment during his inauguration in May 2023 not to accept awards, chieftaincy titles or honorary degrees until the completion of his tenure.
“Let me start by thanking you for this award,” he said.
“I want to accept the image, but unfortunately, like I said in my inauguration speech on the 29th of May, 2023, I was neither going to receive an award, a chieftaincy title, honorary degrees, or anything of such until I finished serving.”
The governor said he was not rejecting the recognition outright but asked the students to keep the award until after his service in office.
“I’m not going to reject this award, but I’m going to ask that you keep it,” he said.
“By the time I’m through, if you still think I’m worthy of this award, you can bring it again.”
