15/07/2026
In the heart of a quiet land, surrounded by rolling hills and ancient trees, there was a community called Assa. For generations, the people of Assa lived simply, farming the land, fishing the rivers, and sharing what little they had with one another. They were not rich in gold or silver, but they were rich in unity.
One day, everything changed.
Deep beneath the soil of Assa, vast rivers of oil and gas were discovered. News spread quickly, and soon the small community became known far and wide. Wealth began to flow into the land, and many feared that with it would come greed, division, and the loss of everything that once made Assa whole.
But Assa was not like other places.
Assa had a king, a wise and humble ruler who loved his people more than power. He did not see the oil and gas as his personal treasure, but as a blessing meant for all. He called the elders, the youth, and the women together and said:
This wealth beneath our feet is not just for today. It is for our children, and their children. If we let it divide us, we lose everything. But if we use it with wisdom, Assa will shine for generations.
Under his leadership, schools were built where children could learn and dream beyond the horizon. Hospitals rose where the sick were treated with dignity. Roads connected villages, bringing people closer together instead of pulling them apart. Jobs were created, not just for a few, but for many.
The king made a law: no one in Assa should sleep hungry while oil flowed beneath their land.
And so, something rare happened.
Instead of fighting over wealth, the people of Assa grew stronger together. Farmers still farmed, but now with better tools. Traders still traded, but with wider reach. The young no longer dreamed of leaving, they dreamed of building.
Visitors came from distant lands, not just to see the oil, but to understand the unity.
What is your secret?” they would ask.
And the people would smile and say, “We remembered who we were before the wealth came.
Assa became more than a community. It became a testimony, that true blessing is not in what lies beneath the ground, but in the hearts of the people above it.
And as long as the king ruled with wisdom, and the people held on to unity, Assa remained not just rich in resources, but rich in purpose.
Happy birthday to you, sir—Odozie Obodo 11!
May you live long for the people of Assa and Ohaji, continuing to lead with wisdom and strength.
Wishing you more grace, greater achievements, and abundant prosperity.
May God bless you richly today and always. Amen.