Abia State Government Plans to Transform New Government House into Five-Star Hotel
The Abia State Government has announced plans to convert the proposed new Government House at Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, into a five-star hotel.
This declaration was made by the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, during a media tour of the site on Thursday.
Kanu also disclosed that a new governor’s office and lodge will be constructed at the existing Government House Complex.
He took the opportunity to refute claims that the current Government House is a rented property.
“Let me dispel another misconception. It was previously stated that the current Government House is a rented apartment, but that’s not true. That property was legally acquired by the state government. Those who held office before were paid rent from government funds while misleading the public into believing they were renting a Government House,” he explained.
The commissioner criticized the building project, stating that it was erroneously claimed to have been completed and inaugurated by the previous administration, asserting that it is unsuitable for habitation and was never intended to be a residential facility.
“The site is essentially uninhabitable; there are no wardrobes, and what we observed were merely empty halls. Did anyone notice any wardrobes on any of the floors? There weren’t any,” he remarked.
He expressed concern over the design of the so-called Government House, questioning the intentions behind its architectural choices.
Kanu noted that only the first floor appears to be completed, while the rest remain unfinished.
“The first floor seems the only one that has been properly finished; the remaining floors are still incomplete,” he stated.
He further accused former commissioner John Okiyi Kalu of disseminating false information regarding the Government House, emphasizing the need for transparency.
“Recently, when Dr. Alex Otti spoke about this Government House, Kalu propagated inaccuracies on Arise. Almost everything he claimed was incorrect. I brought the press here today to witness the reality and verify Dr. Otti’s statements,” Kanu asserted.
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Additionally, he characterized the building as unsafe and highlighted the security risks posed by its location, being surrounded by other structures.
He urged residents of Abia to disregard opposition narratives and continue their support for Governor Otti, stating, “As a responsible governor, Otti will not tolerate wasteful practices or misuse the resources of the Abia people.”
