The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has explained that he initially delayed the reconstruction of the government house in Umuahia because it was not a priority at the beginning of his administration.
Naijaonpoint reports that the governor has commenced the upgrading of the Government House in Umuahia with reconstruction of the governor’s Office and lodge.
Speaking while inspecting the ongoing reconstruction, Otti stated that there were more important things that directly impact the people.
He asserted that government should be about the people, adding that his administration could not consider the construction more important than other needs in the state.
He said, “Government is about the people and if the people do not give their support, then leadership will not be able to work.
“So, the challenge was, which one do we do first? As a student of economics, we have brought with us a scale of preference. And, we sat down and said, okay, everything is important, some are more important than others.
“We didn’t think this place (government house) was more important than workers’ salaries.
“We didn’t think this place was more important than the primary healthcare centres.
“We didn’t think it was more important than our schools. We didn’t think it was more important than making education free at basic level so that our children and those who cannot afford to pay will have the opportunity that you and I had.
“We didn’t think this place was more important than the roads that were dilapidated, the offices that were decrepit.
“So, we started with what we listed as the most important things. Having eliminated a lot of them (challenges). So, right now, I’m sure if you look around, you will see work has started around here”.
Otti noted that work has started with the reconstruction of Michael Okpara’s auditorium, which he said would be completed before the end of June.