Governor Ikpeazu suspends chief of staff for spraying controversial pastor in Government House

GOVERNOR Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has suspended his chief of staff Dr Anthony Agbazuere following the publication of a video showing him spraying controversial clergyman Prophet Chukwuemeka Odumeje inside Government House.

According to Chris Ezem, the secretary to the Abia State government, the suspension takes immediate effect. Highly controversial, Prophet Odumeje is a comedian, musician as well as clergyman, who refers to himself as among other things The Fight, The Lion, Liquid Metal and Indaboski Dahose.

One Abia State official said: “He shouldn’t have done that. I can assure you that the governor wasn’t aware that Odumeje was even there in Government House as the governor was away from the state when it happened.”

Nigeria's elite are known to usually spray naira notes publicly to display affluence and being very influential, clergymen are very popular with politicians. However, Nigeria’s economy is currently in a recession and the action by Dr Agbazuere is seen as typical of the insensitivity of some public officials.

Following Dr Agbazuere's suspension, Governor Ikpeazu has appointed Alozie Odoemelam, the permanent secretary in charge of Government House, as his acting chief of staff. It is not yet clear if formal disciplinary charges will be brought against Dr Agbazuere.

Mr Eze said: “Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed the immediate suspension from office of the chief of staff to the governor, Dr ACB Agbazuere. The permanent secretary, Government House, Mr Alozie Odoemelam, will perform the duties of the office of chief of staff until further notice.”