Abia State Government has announced its decision to convert the newly constructed Government House at Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, into a five-star hotel, citing its unsuitability for habitation and failure to meet basic standards required for a government facility.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, during a media tour of the facility.
Kanu described the structure, which was commissioned by the previous administration, as unfit for use, stressing that it lacks fundamental features such as wardrobes and other essential fittings. “This place appears uninhabitable. There are no wardrobes anywhere. Most of what we saw were just empty halls. Did anybody see any wardrobe on any of the floors? There were none. So this place was never meant, from the outset, to be a residential house,” he said.
He added that the building appeared to have been designed without the intention of actually serving as a Government House. “One begins to wonder what the designers of this so-called Government House had in mind. How could anyone expect a governor to reside in such a place?”
Kanu explained that only one floor of the structure appeared to be finished, while the rest of the building remains incomplete and unsafe. “Only the first floor appears to have been finished.
The rest of the building remains incomplete. A lot of areas are not even plastered, and the elevator was never installed. The whole place looks unsafe. If anyone missteps in certain parts, they could fall through to their death,” he said.
He also alleged that the building was hastily constructed to create a false impression of progress. “They rushed to erect this structure simply to deceive people into believing it was a functioning Government House. Yes, there are a few pieces of furniture here, but that’s all.
“The upper floors are completely empty. They misused state resources to put up a gigantic edifice that serves no real purpose.”
The Commissioner dismissed recent public comments made by former Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, saying they were false and aimed at misleading the public.
“Everything he said was a lie. I brought members of the press here so they could see the truth for themselves and verify what the Governor had earlier said.”
He further addressed claims that the previous Government House was a rented property. “Let me put that lie to rest. The old Government House was not a rented apartment. It was a property duly acquired by the state.
“However, the previous administration paid themselves rent from government coffers while pretending it was a rented space.”
Kanu said the Governor Alex Otti-led administration has begun plans to construct a new and befitting Government House on the site of the former official residence and urged citizens of the state to ignore opposition narratives and continue to support the government’s efforts to provide transparent and effective leadership.
