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The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, has acknowledged that prayers took place at the state’s international airport after initially dismissing a video showing worship at the facility as artificial intelligence-generated.
Omebeh made the admission during an interview on ARISE News on Tuesday, after public criticism over the airport’s use for religious activities.
When asked about the video showing people praying at the facility, the commissioner initially insisted it was not authentic, arguing that former President Goodluck Jonathan had recently used the airport.
“Yes, I am sure it is AI generated because this is the airport that the former president used the other day about three weeks ago. President Goodluck Jonathan, on his way travelling to book a local government in Calabar,” he said.
However, during a subsequent exchange with the interviewer, Omebeh conceded that a prayer session had taken place at the airport.
“I will agree with you that there was prayer,” he said.
The commissioner, however, maintained that the gathering should not be described as a church service, distinguishing between a prayer session and the formal use of an airport as a place of worship.
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His admission followed questions about comments attributed to the state’s Commissioner for Special Duties, Valentine Okeke, who reportedly said airport workers gathered for communal prayers before resuming their official duties.
Omebeh had earlier rejected claims that the facility was being used as a worship centre, insisting that the video did not accurately represent activities at the airport.
“In all ramifications, it is not true. It has never been a worship centre and we don’t intend to use it as a worship centre,” he said.
The interview subsequently focused on the difference between acknowledging that prayers occurred at the airport and accepting that the facility had been converted into a religious centre.
While Omebeh admitted that prayers took place, he continued to reject the characterisation of the gathering as a church service.
The exchange has drawn attention to the state government’s explanation of the incident, particularly the commissioner’s initial claim that the video was AI-generated and his subsequent acknowledgement that a prayer session had occurred.
