The decision of the governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti to retain the Clerk of the Abia State House of Assembly, John Pedro Irokansi and wife of the late Professor Uche Ikonne, a 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mrs. U.G Uche Ikonne, as Solicitor General of the state, has generated mixed reactions among political watchers and residents of the state.
Otti in a statement Friday morning announced the suspension of the Head of the State Civil Service (HoS), Onyi Wamah and all Permanent Secretaries in the state, asking them to hand over to the most senior person in their respective ministries. The statement however did not state the reason the governor of the state decided to retain Irokansi and Ikonne in their various offices and positions.
The statement read,
“Following the inauguration of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the Recovery of Properties and Funds belonging to Abia State Government, the Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has directed the immediate suspension of the Head of Service (HOS) and all Permanent Secretaries in the State civil service.
“Consequently, the Governor has approved the appointment of Lady Joy Maduka, Director, Ministry of Education, as Acting Head of Service (HOS). All the Permanent Secretaries, except the following: John Pedro Iroakazi – Clerk of the House; Mrs. U. G. Uche Ikonne – Solicitor General. Others are by this notice directed to hand over to the most senior Director in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies. This directive takes immediate effect.”
But a political analyst, Mr. Chinagorom Peter, expressed concern over the governor’s decision.
“While we can pardon him that Mrs. Ikonne lost her husband and for people not to see it as vindictive, leaving out John Pedro Irokansi is considered as kickback for the role he (John Pedro Irokansi) played in the emergence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly during the inauguration of the 8th Abia Assembly,” he said while calling on Otti to as a matter of urgency redeploy or retire Irokansi whom he accused of having served as the Clerk of the State Assembly for over 10 years.
