Since the day of its inauguration last week Thursday, the
current administration in Anambra State, led by Prof.
Chukwuma Soludo, has, expectedly, continued to work,
innovate and facilitate some changes in the system of
governance.
The wave of change has also, blown to the Office of the First
Lady of the state, popularly known as the Office of the Wife
of the Governor.
It was observed on Friday that the structure of the office,
located at the left-hand side of the entrance gate of the
Government House in Awka, has begun to receive the Soludo
Effect, as painters were seen, cleaning off the inscription
“Office of Wife of the Governor” boldly written on the building.
As at the time of the press, the cynosural building currently
stands with its former inscription completely erased and it’s
former workers assigned to other ministries in the state,
heralding the abolishment of the Office of the Wife of the
Governor, by the current administration.
Some of the passersby who witnessed the annihilation
process tagged it one of Governor Soludo’s strategy towards
cutting down spendings and cost of governance, as well as
actualising his resolve and promise on prudent management
of the state’s resources.
Recall that the Office was in existence and in operation
throughout the last eight years of Governor Willie Obiano’s
administration, as was boldly occupied by the immediate-past
First Lady of the state, Dr. Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, with its
own funding mechanism and impacts.
The building was, however, not designated as the Office of
the Wife of the Governor during the administrations of former
Governors Chris Ngige and Peter Obi, until the arrival of Chief
Willie Obiano who assigned it to his wife who designated it as
such.
Speculations therefore abound that the current administration
of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo may not tow his predecessor’s
footsteps as he made no mention of First Lady or Governor’s
Wife in his Inaugural Address last week Thursday.
It is, however, at this time, still sketchy what the building
would be used for by this current administration.