Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Payer warriors were Tuesday, sighted at the Old Abia State Government House Umuahia moving from one office block to another anointing them in what could be described as spiritual cleansing.
The exercise attracted the attention of staff in the various buildings but the prayer warriors continued with their assignment undeterred.
Meanwhile, the governor of the state, Dr Alex Otti, has said that the new Government House inaugurated by his predecessor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, at the twilight of his tenure, “was commissioned without being completed.”
Otti who stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Umuahia after his maiden meeting with Permanent Secretaries at the Okpara Auditorium Umuahia, said he would assess the project to know what was required to fully complete it.
Ikengaonline had reported that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State accompanied by his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, inaugurated the project two days before the expiration of Ikpeazu’s eight years in office.
The two-storey edifice was initiated by Gov. Theodore Orji before handing over power of Ikpeazu in 2015, but the project has crawled since then despite public outcry against Government unseriousness.
Responding to a question on where he would be operating from since Abia currently has two Government Houses, Otti said the Old Government House was a rented apartment.
He explained that he would rather complete the new Government House and operate from it instead of continuing in a rented apartment.
“I do know that the Old Government House was on a rented property. So, if we have one that we own, we shouldn’t be paying rent.
“But I’m also aware that the new Government House that was commissioned the other day, was commissioned without it being completed.
“So, when we assess it, we will know what is required to complete it. We will complete it and begin to operate from there. But for now, we will operate from anywhere.”
Reacting to Ikpeazu’s absence at his inauguration on Monday at the Umuahia Township Stadium, Otti said he did not know why the former governor chose to stay away.
He, however, said that his predecessor’s absence was inconsequential.
“I wouldn’t know why he was not there. But whether or not he was there, the important thing is that I have been sworn in.
“We don’t need the predecessor to swear in the successor. It would have been nice if he came but since he didn’t come we are not going to make any issue out of that,” Otti said.
On the outcome of his meeting with the Permanent Secretaries, Otti said it was aimed at understanding their challenges and acquainting them with his vision.
He said it was a successful meeting, and expressed optimism that he would have a harmonious relationship with them.
“I just wanted to understand how they have been doing the job, and know if there are areas of challenges. It was also a meeting to communicate my vision clearly to them. It was a successful meeting of brothers and sisters.”
Ikengaonline observed that there was power supply in the old Government House from morning to evening on Tuesday, a development that has not been common in recent years.
Although Otti later did not come to the Government House as at the time of filing this report, staff were very enthusiastic that there would be a positive change.
Ikpeazu did not stay at the facility most of the time as he preferred operating from the Government House annex in Aba, and his palatial mansion at Umuobiakwa, Obingwa.
