From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti has given reason why 20 months after being sworn in as governor, he still operates from his private residence at Umuehim Novosi, in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the State.
Otti who gave the reason while responding to a question during his monthly media briefing tagged “Governor Otti Speaks to Abians” said the Government House, in Umuahia was looted and rendered unusable by appointees of the immediate past administration.
Otti said since his priorities were delivering results to Abians and not where he operates from, added that the huge amount that will be involved in renovating and retrofitting the Government House made it more expedient for him to operate from his private residence.
“You are worried that I am not operating from here. I don’t think you should worry about that. The important thing is that I’m operating.
“Abians want to see activities not where their Governor is staying. Where I live is not as important as having roads in Aba and Umuahia and other local government areas in Abia State.
“It is not as important as ensuring that Aba and Umuahia particularly are kept clean on a 24 hour, seven days basis. It is not as important as ensuring that our people have good hospitals and accessible schools to go to.
“It is not as important as ensuring that our schools are fixed. Those were the area I declared state of emergency on. I didn’t declare emergency on Government House and where the Governor will live.
“So, what the issue is, is that this Government House is important but not as important as some of the things that I mentioned earlier,” Otti stated.
The Governor reassured Abians that the State’s seat of power would be fixed in due course, not just for his administration but for future Governors.
“When I inspected both the Governor’s Lodge and the Governor’s Office, they were in terrible states of disrepair, vandalized and looted.
“Renovating them requires significant funds, but I considered it more urgent to channel those resources into infrastructure, security, health, environment and education.”
Otti who reiterated his administration’s commitment to driving massive infrastructural development in the state, said the popular Port Harcourt Road, being reconstructed by Julius Berger, will be commissioned on May 29.
The Governor, who noted that the ongoing expansion of Library Avenue popularly known as (Bank road) will be completed before the end of March, equally informed that work was progressing at various project sites across the State including the recently flagged-off Omenuko bridge.
He announced that work will soon commence at Owaza road in Ukwa West LGA as he would be flagging-off the reconstruction of the road by next week.
Otti reiterated the desire of his administration to ensure all parts of the state enjoy steady power supply as well as tackle insecurity frontally.