Gov Otti Knocks Ikpeazu Over New Abia Govt House
- Says project inaugurated without completion
- Engages Perm Secretaries on govt’s vision
- Speaks on Ikpeazu’s absence at swearing-in
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, has chided his predecessor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, for hurriedly inaugurating and leaving behind an uncompleted new Government House building in Umuahia, the State capital.
He however promised to assess the quality of work done on the building in order “to determine what is needed to fully complete it” and make the complex habitable.
Governor Otti, who dropped the hints in a chat with newsmen after meeting with Permanent Secretaries at the Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia, the State capital, said; “I’m aware that the New Government House that was commissioned the other day, was done 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.”
The immediate past Governor Ikpeazu had, 48 hours before the May 29 exit date from Office, inaugurated the New Government House located at Ogurube Layout in Umuahia.
On where he would be operating from given the situation on-ground, Governor Otti said since the Old Government House was a rented apartment, it would be more reasonable and cost-effective to put the new Government House in proper shape than continue 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.”
Also reacting to ex-Governor Ikpeazu’s absence during his inauguration at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Monday, the former banker said the reason for his predecessor’s action was unknown to him, saying; “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”.
On his engagement with the Permanent Secretaries, Governor Otti explained that it was meant to understand and appreciate their challenges while acquainting them with the new administration’s vision.
Describing the meeting as successful and quite illuminating, the Governor expressed confidence in having a harmonious and robust working relationship that would take Abia State to the next level of development and growth.
“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”, he said
The inauguration was attended by Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State among many other dignitaries
Meanwhile, in what many observers described as a spiritual cleansing for Abia State’s new beginning, a group of prayer warriors were sighted at the Old Government House moving from building to building and anointing the premises.
