Michael Akpara, Director of Finance and Operations of Alex Otti Campaign Organisation (AOCO), has been upgraded to play the same role, this time in the new government of Abia State, as he has just been named as Special Adviser on Finance to the Governor, by Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State.

In a statement by his spokesman, Kazie Uko, Otti, also named 20 other aides in the categories of Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, and Special Assistants, with Uwanna Ikechukwu, emerging Senior Special Assistant on Legal Matters.

Others, in the new set of appointments, were, Uche Eme Uche, Special Adviser on Education, Joel F. Ogbonna, Petroleum and Energy, and Clifford C. Agbaeze as his Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture.

Other appointees are Chimereze Okigbo as the Special Adviser on Internally Generated Revenue, Uche Mark Nwosu as the Chief of Protocol, Uche Ukeje as the Senior Special Assistant on Aba Rejuvenation, Dodoh Okafor as the Special Assistant on Public Communication, and Uzor Nwachukwu as the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Meanwhile, Kingsley Anosike was appointed as the Special Adviser on Planning and Strategy, Uzoma Nwagba as the Senior Special Assistant on Digital Economy and SME, Rev. Father Christian Uche Anokwuru as the Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions, and Ifeoma Thomas as the Special Assistant on Vulnerable Groups and Poverty Alleviation.

Dike Nwankwo was also appointed as the Senior Special Assistant, Special Duties, to the Governor; Okey Kanu as the Special Adviser on Strategic Communication; Betty Emeka-Obasi as the Senior Special Assistant, Special Duties; and Chinedu Ekeke as the Senior Special Assistant, Youth and Sports Development.

Chuka Ofili will be the Senior Special Assistant for Domestic Affairs, Luke Ukara Onyeani will be the Senior Special Assistant for Legislative Matters, Navy Commander Macdonald Ubah (Rtd) will be the Special Adviser for Security, and Chimezie Ukaegbu will be the Special Adviser for Trade and Commerce.

The development comes about days after Governor Otti nominated eight officials, including Prof. Kenneth Kalu as the Secretary to the State Government and Caleb Ajagba as his Chief of Staff.

Since assuming office on Monday, the governor has also directed that all accounts of the Abia State Government be immediately frozen, as well as those of its agencies domiciled in all financial institutions.

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed being turned back at the pavilion for top dignitaries during the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu on Monday as nothing, saying the incident was merely being twisted.

Soludo, alongside immediate past Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, were barred from entering the VIP section during the inauguration of the President, as captured in a viral video, which surfaced while the inauguration was going on.

A voice was heard lamenting that “they have bounced my governor. See him explaining like a child,” as the governor appeared to be either pleading to be let in or explaining something to some people at the entrance of a particular section of the Eagle Square, who appeared not to be listening.

After a while, as it appeared that the people he was talking to simply ignored him, while busy conducting their business, the governor, who appeared unhappy, was seen turning round to walk away, as the voice in the video continued lamenting on what it believed was poor treatment of “his governor.”

But Soludo, in a statement, through his spokesman, Chris Abarume, simply brushed the incident aside, saying the image at the occasion was simply twisted by the narrator and that he was duly invited to the occasion, and could not have been sent away from the state box, where dignitaries were meant to sit, adding that he was indeed, one of the “few governors” that had the privilege of being invited to the event.

He said: “A very mischievous and misleading video is currently being circulated online by some mischief makers who derive pleasure in misinforming the general public

“The video shows Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, arriving the Eagle Square for the Presidential swearing-in ceremony in Abuja and was subsequently being re-directed courteously by protocol officials to the rightful position reserved for him at the other side of the VVIPs sitting positions. Redirecting invited guests to their rightful sitting position is neither an issue nor a condescending act.”

For Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and Kashim Shettima, the climax inched further on Thursday with the conferment of the the prestigious honours of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) on them, the highest of such in the Nigeria, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

At the investiture, which took place at the State House Conference Center in Abuja, the event, which is part of a series of events lined up for the May 29 inauguration ceremony, was also witnessed by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Chief Justice of the Nigeria and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  as well as top Nigerians, Buhari, reiterated his confidence that Tinubu would finish what he started eight years ago, when he came into office.

The event, took place on the heels of the official handover of Transition Documents to the incoming administration of Tinubu, who was declared winner of the February 25 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Channels Television, quotes Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha who doubles as Chairman of the Presidential Transition Council, as disclosing at a briefing last Thursday, that an Inauguration Lecture on the topic: Deepening Democracy for Integration and Development by His Excellency, Uhuru M. Kenyatta, former President of Kenya will take place on Saturday 27th May.

This will be followed closely by a Children’s Day Program which would involve a parade and a party for the kids.

As part of the schedule of activities marking the 2023 Presidential Inauguration, an Inter-denominational Church Service will hold Sunday the 28th at the National Christian Centre by 10:00am and an Inauguration Dinner/Gala Night will take place later on at the State House Conference Centre.

The SGF further stated that on Monday, 29th May, the Inauguration Parade and Swearing-In exercise will take place at the Eagle Square by 10:00am, this is to be followed afterwards by a Post Inauguration Luncheon.

Boss Mustapha assured that adequate arrangements have been made for the safety and security of all people throughout the inauguration period.