On Thursday, Abia State Commissioner For Infromation, Prince Okey Kanu, was forced by Governor Alex Otti to take journalists on a tour of the new government house in Ogurube Layout Umuahia after which he addressed them. I was able to obtain the audio recording of his statement which is attached to this post.
While i sympathize with the Honorable Commissioner because I understand his situation the truth is that i would not have agreed to do that tour or make the statement he made, after 2 years his government left the bulding unsecuredd to rot away. The “gentleman” must know Governor Otti embarrassed the truth in his Arise TV interview and should actually seek ways to kill the story instead of keeping it in the news cycle.
At least 4 media persons that were part of the tour asked the same question after the tour: what did JOK say that is not true?
They saw first hand that contrary to the false claims of Governor Alex Otti, the first floor was not only plastered but also properly furnished. When the commissioner mentioned that the duct for the lift was not plastered one of them whispered to him that normally you don’t plaster lift ducts but buy and install inside the duct then cover with plaster and paint.
Indeed another touring journalist stated that with N50m the government can buy and install the best residential lift for the building.
Governor Otti has spent two years in office and more than N10 billion to run office of Governor in his private house which is located in his village outside Umuahia. He also demolished Abia lodge in Abuja and paid multi-billion naira to his crony for its “retrofitting”. Yet, Governor Otti does not have money to do the needful at the new government house tor 2 years because of what a manipulating “prophet” acting as Spiritual Leader told him.
May be our Governor does not know that when the seat of Federal Government of Nigeria relocated from Lagos to Abuja in 1991 most of the structures currently at Aso Rock were not there. Succesive Presidents of Nigeria lived and worked from there while adding structures as they liked. Future presidents will likely also add but Governor Otti wants ready-made everythig before he can functjon as expected in our constitution and established conventions.
Principally, Commisioner Okey Kalu made the following statemnts during the post-tour press conference that i wish to empirically debunk.
- “On the day this place was commissioned there was no scissors to cut the tape”-Commissioner Okey Kanu.
Response:
Kindly zoom the picture of Governor Seyi Makinde cutting the tape and see the scissors in his hand. On the far left of the picture is my humble self that he referred to as “gentleman” in the audio. Kanu lied like Otti.
- “This place will be turned into a 5-star hotel…..these gentlemen decided to deceive Abians, they misused the resources of the state to put up THIS GIGANTIC EDIFICE that is meant to achieve nothing….and if you look around the government house the way it is situated you could see a lot of the buildings around here looking into this place, so from the point of view of security this place is not even an ideal place for a governor to live in .” -Commissioner Okey Kanu
Response:
A. According to Otti’s Commissioner for Information, Ikpeazu used Abia’s money to put up “a gigantic edifice”. Note the word “gigantic” (of very great size or extent; huge or enormous) and also recall that Govenor Alex Otti said to Rufai Oseni of Arise TV that the first time he visited there he saw that the ground floor was “fantastically done and furnished”. Confirmation that Governor Otti was actually handed a well furnished gigantic edifice which he abandoned to rot away whereas he took an oath to protect life and properties of Ndi Abia.
B. Dr Okezie Ikpeazu was not the Governor of Abia State that designed, started and located the new government house at Oguribe Layout. He merely finished what his predecessor started in order to save tax payers money from wasting away. The new structure he added from scratch was the 2-storey building on the right hand side meant tor security aides of the Governor. While doing that, Ikpeazu lived at the old Government House Umuahia or Aba Governor’s lodge with all State Executive Council Meetings held in Umuahia at the old government house. Only the last EXCO meeting was held at the new government house where Commissioner Kanu spoke from. The official red-colored seat of the governor is still in the conference room as shown in the attached picture taken during the Kanu tour.
C. All Ikpeazu’s predecessors also stayed at Old Government house Umuahia and conducted official business there with none of them dying or being attacked. Nobody handed over any gigantic fantastically furnished edifice to them.
D. The old government house is located in AFARA while the new Government House is located where can be called the “new GRA” at Ogurube Layout. According to the master plan of Umuahia, the new government house is located within the 3-arm zone of the capital city and it is shocking that neither Governor Otti nor his Commissioner for Information know this fact and its significance. That is another confirmation that Otti and his gentlemen stumbled on power and are focused on looting than leading properly. They merely deploy massive propaganda to deceive the gullible but remain ignorant of critical leadership issues.
E. The private residence of Governor Alex Otti in Nvosi Isiala Ngwa South that he has used as official government house for 2 years and spent billions of tax payers money to improve is surrounded by private buldings including the family house of my friend and a native compound. Yet, to the glory of God his security has not been compromised and i pray it will never be in Jesus name.
F. Verifiably, more than 95% of the lands around the new government house were allocated before Ikpeazu became Governor. Because of bitterness and hatred Otti and his “gentlemen” willl never tell you this. As far as they are concerned Ikpeazu must be destroyed at all cost. Ikpeazu is the only project Governor Otti is diligently executing same way Buhari used Jonathan as a 4-year project.
Watch the attached aerial video of the new government house and see the so called “buildings looking into” the place. If you ever identify any such buildings kindly ask Governor Otti how much it will cost to increase the height of the perimeter fence to shut out the building or alternatively revoke the C of O of whoever is ilegally looking into Otti’s fantastically furnished gigantic edifice that must never be seen by human eyes.
For the sake of those who may not know the location of the new government house in Umuahia, the adjacent building to it is the former Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs complex which was relocated to the new JAAC Building. That complex is opposite commissioners quarter where Otti’s gentlemen live. The former Local Government Ministry structure which shares fence with the new government house was proposed to temprarily accommodate the office of the deputy Governor, Chief of Staff to the Governor and possibly the SSG. What more does Otti wantt beyond listening to false prophets and mediums?
Finally, Governor Alex Otti, permit me to once more help you govern properly through sound advice. YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO LOCATE A 5-STAR HOTEL WITHIN THE 3-ARM ZONE. Kindly speak to heads of security agencies in our state for proper understanding and just pray against manipulative false prophets and mediums. Almighty God who kept your predecessors alive will also keep you safe and sound. Stop listening to nonsense prophecies sir. You will not die but live to declare the glory of God if you believe in Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Stop patronizing marabouts, mediums and false prophets who seek to manipulate and exploit your vulnerabilities
Chief John Okiyi Kalu
(John Billions)
09/05/2025
NB: All the pictures and videos attached to this post were taken during the tour with Commissioner Okey Kanu on Thursday except for the commissioning photo and video.
