Abia government sacks commissioner, suspends two council chairmen

Adesina’s exoneration attests to his integrity, says Ikpeazu
Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has sacked his Commissioner for Transportation, Ekele Nwaohanmuoh and the Transition Committee Chairman of Umunneochi Council Area, Matthew Ibeh.

He also suspended Transition Committee chairmen of Aba North and Aba South council areas and General Manager of the Traffic and Indiscipline Management Agency of Abia State (TIMAAS) from office.

Chief of Staff to the governor, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere, announced these yesterday, saying Ikpeazu also approved the appointment of Tony Nwanmuo and Godswill Nwonoruo as commissioner-nominees and his Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Eze Chikanayo, as Transition Committee Chairman for Umunneochi Council Area.

As of press time, there were no explanations for the governor’s action, but the deputy chairmen of the local government areas were directed to take over at the council offices and set up a taskforce with their Heads of Service to check environmental indiscipline and other vices in their domains.

In another development, Governor Ikpeazu congratulated President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, on his recent exoneration from charges of corruption by an Independent Panel of Inquiry set up by the bank’s Board.

He noted that Adesina’s second exoneration after a thorough investigation by the Bank’s Ethics Committee was an affirmation of Adesina’s integrity.

A statement issued yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, noted, “Throughout Adesina’s career spanning several years in national and global organisations, he (Adesina) left solid footprints of excellence and integrity in the discharge of his duties.

“Since his election as President of the AfDB, there has been a measured and deliberate paradigm shift in the bank’s strategic focus, making it more relevant to Africa’s economy at the national and sub-national levels.”

Ikpeazu said Abia State under Adesina’s presidency of the AfDB received tremendous mileage in its quest to partner the bank in infrastructure development and boosted the state’s economy.

He commended Adesina for appreciating the strategic roles and the huge potentials, which an economically viable Aba would play in Nigeria and the West African region.

“Throughout this entire process, Adesina carried himself with admirable candor and impeccable integrity, insisting that due process be followed at all times,” he added.

Arguing that Adesina’s exoneration would boost his reelection for another term, Ikpeazu said his reelection would enable him to consolidate on his programmes designed to strengthen the economies of African countries, which he said, was AfDB’s core mandate.