May 29: Committee unveils plans for Otti’s inauguration
*Davido, Basketmouth, Mr. Raw, Ruff Coin, other top musicians, comedians billed to perform
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
The Alex Otti Inauguration Committee has unveiled plans for the inauguration of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti as the 10th Governor of Abia State on May 29, 2023.
The two-part event slated for Umuahia Township Stadium and International Conference Centre (ICC) will see celebrated musicians and top rated comedians perform at the ceremonies.
Coordinator of Dr Alex Otti Inauguration Committee, Hon. Iheanacho Obioma (Chomen), told newsmen in Umuahia Wednesday that the theme for the inauguration exercise is: “The Alex Otti Inaugural…Help is Here,” a follow up to the incoming Governor’s Campaign Organisation’s battle charge to Ndi Abia prior to the 2023 Governorship election – “Weep not, help is on the way.”
Iheanacho, who was the Director-General of Alex Otti Campaign Orginsation for the 2023 election, disclosed that the Alex Otti Inauguration Committee has designed two major events for the May 29, 2023 inauguration.
“One is the formal Swearing-in of the Governor-Elect, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, and the Deputy Governor-Elect, Engr. Ikechukwu Emet; and the second, a Luncheon with the new Governor of Abia State and his Deputy for invited guests.”
Harping on the essence of the two events, the former member of the House of Representatives, said: “These two events are going to signal a new order in the way we do things as Abians, going forward, and therefore has been designed with excellence in mind.”
According to him, some of Nigeria’s best and globally acknowledged stars in music and comedy have been lined up to perform in the events of the inauguration.
“Topping the headlines in music is international award-winning singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, while our own son of the soil, Bright Okpocha (a.k.a Basketmouth), will lead the front of comedy artists as Host of the events,” he said.
Iheanacho named other celebrated singers billed for the event to include Mr. Raw, Ruff Coin and Rugged Man while Nedu Wazobia, Diamond Okechi and Funny Bone make up the comedy cadre.
Venues for the inauguration events, the Umuahia Township Stadium and the International conference Centre at Ogurube Layout, have received a facelift, preparatory for the grand showing, the Inauguration Committee Coordinator reported.
“Extensive renovation works have been carried out at the Umuahia Township Stadium. The State Box gallery has received a new layer of floor tiles, away from its usual pot-holed surface. Also, the broken spectator’s plastic seats have given way for a more befitting set of furniture. The weather-beaten walls have equally received a coat of fresh paint while the grasses around the playing pitch and surroundings are being mowed to give effect of carpet.
“As in the Umuahia Township Stadium, so is the International Conference Centre (ICC) at Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, where the exteriors of the event centre has been refreshed with brilliant white-coloured paint. Broken flower kerbs littering the massive landscape have been revamped and coated with glossy white and black paints,” he added.
He said that the renovations were being carried out with private resources at moderate costs, and made it clear that his Committee did not collect a dime from the outgoing government which out to have carried the renovations.
He also hinted that adequate measures were being put in place to address issues of security and traffic challenges to ensure a hitch-free swearing in event.
Iheanacho used the opportunity to invite the world to Abia, saying that he was expecting over 100 million people both within and from across the world to either witness the events physically or watch it through life telecast.