The Abia State Government has given insight into the absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s portraits in some of its offices in the state.
Abia is the home state of the detained leader of the proscribed Indegenous People of Biafra(IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
It is also for now the lone Labour Party controlled State in Southeast geopolitical zone. The party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi came third in the February 25 presidential election and Obi is challenging the outcome of the election in Court with him and his followers called ‘Obidients’ claiming he won.
Fuelled by some online reports, many alleged that this might have influenced the Abia State Government and private individuals into keeping President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s portraits away from their offices in the state.
But the governor, Dr Alex Otti, has dismissed the claims that the absence is his administration’s none recognition of Tinubu as Nigeria’s President.
Otti said the media reports to that effect must have been sponsored by the opposition in the state to discredit him.
Speaking on behalf of the governor, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said the state government had the president’s portraits in some offices but not in all, adding that the same applies to the governor as well.
“We don’t have the governor’s portraits in most offices because this is a new government. We have placed some pictures and ordered for more. It has nothing to do with politics.
“The day the governor met with permanent secretaries we still had the former Governor Ikpeazu’s portrait in the banquet hall.
“It is criminal to say that the person who was duly sworn in as president will not be recognised. It doesn’t make sense, and we don’t think it is in that direction,” Ekeoma said.
