Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has said that the new Government House built by his predecessor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, was inaugurated without being completed.
Otti, while addressing journalists in Umuahia after a meeting with Permanent Secretaries at the Okpara Auditorium, stated that he would assess the progress of the construction at the building to determine the necessary steps to complete it.
This statement was made in response to questions about his plans for the government’s operational headquarters. Previously, Governor Ikpeazu had inaugurated the New Government House in Ogurube Layout shortly before leaving office. The inauguration was attended by Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
When asked where he would be operating from, Otti explained that the Old Government House was a rented apartment and expressed his preference for putting the new Government House in proper shape rather than continuing in a rented space.
He said: “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.”
