ABIA GOVERNOR’S LODGE ALLEGEDLY DEMOLISHED
In a facebook post shared by Chisom Henry Orji, it is alleged that the Labour Party Governor of Abia State Dr. Alex Otti has demolished the Abia Governor’s lodge in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
This development has raised several criticisms as Nigerians question the need of such infrastructural damage at a time when the country is battling economic turbulence.
Chisom Henry Orji wrote:
” Abia Governor’s lodge Abuja demolished by Otti. Same Governor that’s currently pleading with Abia Workers to accept 40k minimum wage and daily meal for workers in the soon to establish Ministry of Labour.
Rumor has it that he has also demolished that of Lagos and there’s a plan to build new ones with 8bn each.
Meanwhile, we are paying for temporary lodge at Transcorp Hilton. Said that said that one of the reasons why he is working from home when we have 3 Government Houses at Umuahia and Aba, was to cut cost of governance is about to spend billions building new Abia Governor’s lodge.
Fellow Abians, una still wan protest against Tinubu?”
Onyebuchi Ememanka who identies as the former Chief Press Secretary of the state also took to social media to share his own piece of view:
DEAR GOVERNOR OTTI,
WHAT MANNER OF WASTE IS THIS?
I was shocked to my bones when I saw a video of the ongoing demolition of the Abia Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, on the orders of Governor Alex Otti. It has to be him. No one else could have authorized such an action.
If I didn’t see the video myself, I wouldn’t have believed that such thing was even possible and I am wondering what could lead anyone to contemplate this kind of action.
Any person who knows or has visited the Lodge in Abuja will feel exactly the same way I feel right now.
I understand that the Governor is pulling down the structures because he wants to build a new one there that will cost several billions of Naira.
Not only is this a totally needless waste of resources but completely out of sync with best practices even on a global scale.
The sprawling Abia Governor’s Lodge at T J Damjuma Street Asokoro, Abuja is not just one other house but bears historical significance for the people of Abia State.
Built by then Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, it is a place that is truly befitting for a Governor. Because Governors come to Abuja a lot, the Lodge is designed to accommodate the Governor, his family and his aides when they are in Abuja.
This Lodge has served every single Governor since 1999. It is a solid place and very well built. I speak because I know.
What successive Governors have done is mainly to renovate the building either by repainting it or fixing some faults that are normal in buildings. Those who want, change the furniture and other household items there, especially the personal items. But to pull the entire place down defies understanding.
The building you see in this picture is the main Lodge where the Governor stays, complete with different areas designed for the comfort of the Governor and his family. The main living room is a true testament to quality and beauty wjerr the Governor receives his visitors and holds meetings. The Governor can receive even the President of the United States in that place.
Apart from this one, there are several other buildings in the premises. As you enter the main gate, there are 2 massive duplexes on both sides. On the left is actually a twin duplex furnished for guests of the Governor. On the right too is another one that has a Conference Hall for meetings too.
There are also 2 bungalows where staff of the Lodge who are civil servants, and security personnel reside.
For the records, every state in Nigeria has a Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. Yobe, Osun, Benue and Kogi States have theirs around the same area.
The video I saw showed the twin duplex on the left hand side completely brought to the ground with laborers seriously at work.
By choosing to destroy that place, a large chunk of our history will be lost. Each time I came there those days, I felt a deep connection with our past as pictures of past Governors of the State, both civilian and military hung there in majestic historical significance.
Ever since Governor Otti took over, the place has been under lock and key. I learnt the place was totally abandoned and overgrown with weeds.
One of the reasons for having a lodge in Abuja is to save money for the government as the Governor and his aides are well accommodated there. Food is prepared there for the Governor and his aides.
So where has Governor Otti been sleeping whenever he is in Abuja? I hear the Hilton. Only God knows how much this is costing together with his close personal aides.
Then Governor Okezie Ikpeazu passed the night at this Lodge each time we had business in Abuja.Same for his Wife.
He would hold all his meetings there before we retire to bed. When he had meetings outside of the Lodge, we would all return to the Lodge thereafter.
Iconic government buildings like this are usually preserved. If every Governor chooses to pull down buildings like this, it will be chaotic and outright madness.
In advanced nations, such buildings are treated as national treasures. The White House and No. 10 Downing Street are clear examples. In South Africa, the Union Building in Pretoria has stood for almost a century.
At a time when there is hardship across the country, when the Governor is yet to say a word on the recently approved new minimum wage for workers of the state, why should this be a priority for our state? What sort of voodoo economic strategy is this?
If the Governor had even chosen to lease the premises to commercial tenants, it would have still fetched the state lots of money. Asokoro is a high brow and very exclusive part of Abuja. I thought our Governor and Peter Obi are partners?
About a year before our exit, the entire premises had undergone massive rehabilitation and the place was looking absolutely beautiful. There is no Governor that the place won’t accommodate decently, no matter his taste.
I also heard that yesterday in Arochukwu, the Governor said he would bring down the Government House and build a new one. He didn’t say anything about the edifice that was completed just before he came in. He said he would complete the new one by December.
I know he must have been joking. You know he went home yesterday and believe me, home is sweet. The euphoria of being with his kinsmen got a better part of him and he made that statement casually.
We will forgive him. He is our Governor, after all”
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