Delta: Drama as Okowa was locked out of office

Barry Agbanigbi, Asaba

There was a mild-drama yesterday at the Government House, Asaba when Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who had gone to resume duties could not gain access to the office and official residence.
Okowa who was being conducted round offices, banquet halls and executive chambers within the complex by the Permanent Secretary, Government House and Protocol, Mr. Benson Oburoh was said to have been shocked when the keys to his office were not readily available.
Governor Okowa was also unable to gain access into the living quarters in the expansive Government House.
This according to sources may not be unconnected with the speculated frosty relationship between the immediate past governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Okowa.
Sources alleged that the ex-governor might still be holding the keys. But a source in Government House exonerated the ex-governor, saying that the denial of access to Okowa’s office was the making of some aides to the new governor who were believed to be supervising some remedial works in the office.
Okowa’s aides having recently conducted a series of spiritual cleansing exercises may have left with the keys to the governor’s office in order to prevent any desecration of the office by persons not disposed to the new government.”
Okowa’s inspection of the Government House complex followed a prayer session at the Government House chapel which was attended by his wife, Edith, deputy governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, politicians and staff of the complex.
Speaking earlier at the brief service conducted by the chaplain, Rev. Ben Golley, Senator Okowa urged Deltans to continually pray for the success of the programmes and policies of their leaders, stressing that prayer is the key to success.
Meanwhile, as Deltans continue to wait for the governor to make more appointments into his government, the Commissioners’ quarters have been allegedly stripped bare by the out-gone commissioners.
Civil servants attached to the official residential quarters of civil commissioners were seen in clusters discussing the development in hush tunes.
One of the workers who pleaded anonymity said that the former commissioners looted almost everything, including air conditioners, television sets, furniture and even kitchen utensils from their
official residences.