Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has explained the circumstances surrounding the sealing of the Renewed Hope Agenda office located on Ojike Street in Umuahia.
The governor said the action had nothing to do with politics, contrary to the claims already circulating in some quarters.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Ukoha, the governor said the office was among several properties affected during an ongoing enforcement exercise carried out by the state’s Harmonised Task Force.
He noted that the exercise was guided strictly by court orders and aimed at ensuring that property owners comply with legal and statutory requirements.
Otti disclosed that the closure came to his attention after the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, raised concerns over the matter.
He said he immediately instructed that the property be reopened while the owner works towards regularising outstanding documents.
According to him, the enforcement was broad and not targeted at any political group. He warned that attaching political motives to a routine compliance operation could mislead the public and create avoidable tension.
“The unsealing was promptly executed pending the regularisation of the building’s documentation,” the statement read.
It further stressed that the owner of the building failed to provide evidence of compliance with ground rent payments and other required charges despite repeated notices.
The government maintained that the task force acted according to established procedures and that similar actions were taken on other properties that defaulted.
Officials also noted that the enforcement drive will continue across the state until all affected buildings meet the required legal standards.
